Alex Ovechkin warms up before the Capitals-Blue Jackets game. Note the special patch.
Alex Ovechkin warms up before the Capitals-Blue Jackets game. Note the special patch near the right shoulder and Ovechkin’s awesome laces.

On the same night that the Capitals (along with the rest of the NHL) participated in Hockey Fights Cancer, the Capitals handed the Columbus Blue Jackets their fourth straight loss. Though the game started off slowly, with no scoring in the first period, the Capitals were controlling the game, out-shooting Columbus 14-9. The Capitals began their scoring a shade under 2 minutes into the second period, as Joel Ward scored a power play goal.

Ward took a page out of Ovechkin’s book there, scoring from one of Ovechkin’s favorite spots. Beautiful set up by Nicklas Backstrom and Marcus Johansson,who had the assists on the goal. The Capitals would get their next goal courtesy of Brooks Laich.

Laich does a great job finishing his shot and crashing the net. Steve Oleksy did things with the puck that I was not aware that he could do with the puck, which led to a very good shot on goal, and Laich was right where he needed to be to put in the rebound. Martin Erat deserves a ton of credit for drawing attention away from Oleksy. Erat and Oleksy got the assists on Laich’s goal. The Capitals wouldn’t score again until the third period, when Troy Brouwer put one in.

This goal happened because of a great forecheck. Martin Erat’s pressure forced a turnover, and he passed it to Brouwer, who scored one of the easiest goals he’ll ever score. Erat got the assist on Brouwer’s goal. Later in the third period, Alex Ovechkin got jealous of Ward, Laich, and Brouwer and decided to join the goal party.

Mike Green and Martin Erat with a great sequence there, and Ovechkin simply does not miss from his favorite spot. Green and Erat got the assists on the goal.

Braden Holtby and the Capitals defense played very well against Columbus. While Columbus did manage 38 shots on goal, that is a prime example of quantity over quality.

Three Stars Of The Game:

  1. Braden Holtby: 38-39 saves, 97.4% save percentage
  2. Martin Erat: 3 points (3 assists), +2 rating
  3. Brooks Laich: 1 point (1 goal), 1 shot, +2 rating

The Capitals’ next game is on Tuesday, when they travel to Winnipeg. The Capitals won, you know what time it is: