Capitals vs. Blue Jackets Recap: Ovechkin’s Historic 40th is the High of Low Lousy Loss

Mar 22, 2023 - 1:48 AM

Washington Capitals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rhoj2hQbqDv6dkzaBfidsfw0U8g=/0x153:6000x3528/1920x1080/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72100672/1475158397.0.jpg" />

On a night dedicated to Alex Ovechkin goals Washington’s offense failed to keep pace with Columbus in a wild 7 to 6 loss on home ice.

Here’s Tuesday night’s Plus/Minus:

Plus: Ovechkin scored his 40th goal of the season. He is the first player in NHL history to record thirteen (!) forty goal seasons.

Minus: Losing two separate two goal leads on home ice.

More notes on the game:

• Ovechkin made league history just five minutes into the first period. Skating into the slot Ovechkin’s pass across the crease deflected off a Blue Jackets skater before bouncing over the goal line.
• T.J. Oshie tallied next by deflecting a Martin Fehervary shot pass into the top half of the net. Strong work from Sonny Milano below the goal line created the scoring play.
• Conor Sheary was Washington’s third, whipping a loose puck past Columbus goaltender Daniil Tarasov for his 13th goal of the season.
• Eric Robinson responded for the Blue Jackets 45 seconds later, drawing the visitors back into the contest.
• Six minutes into the second period Adam Boqvist reduced Washington’s lead further. Boqvist’s stellar snipe whistled past Charlie Lindgren’s left ear and into the twine.
• Nicklas Backstrom and Milano scored next, connecting after a pair of late passes across the crease. Backstrom returned Milano’s dish at the last second, allowing the latter to beat Tarasov with ease.
• Jack Roslovic responded for the Blue Jackets before Nick Jensen completed the back and forth frame’s scoring at 39:52.
• Boqvist netted his second goal of the evening early in the third period, hushing Capital One Arena.
• Emil Bemstrom then tied it for Columbus just two minutes later. Patrik Laine put the puck on a tee for Bemstrom and he ripped a one touched shot past Lindgren.
• But with less than five minutes to play Jensen skated around Erik Gudbranson and knifed a backhanded shot up and over Tarasov’s short side. Lindgren picked up the primary assist on the play, his first career NHL point.
• With 47 seconds left on the clock Boone Jenner netted the game’s equalizer. Roslovic completed the comeback with the overtime winner at 62:43.