Blue Jackets Sweep Capitals in Weekend Showdown, Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Capitals fell to the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 on Sunday night in their final regular season home game, suffering their second loss to Columbus in a weekend set. The defeat drops the Capitals’ record to 50-21-9 (109 points), while the Blue Jackets keep their playoff aspirations alive with the back-to-back wins.

Despite a solid effort on Sunday, the Caps found themselves struggling to capitalize on their scoring opportunities. “I thought we played well for the most part,” said Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery. “We controlled play, out-chanced them significantly, had the puck the majority of the game. So, it’s a positive.” However, they were unable to match Columbus’s offensive output from their previous encounter, which ended in a lopsided 7-0 defeat on Saturday.

Alex Ovechkin scored early for Washington, marking his 43rd goal of the season just 1:10 into the first period. Receiving an assist from Dylan Strome, Ovechkin helped the Caps jump to a quick lead. However, following this initial success, Columbus answered back with a goal from Zach Werenski at 13:54, leveling the score at 1-1 by the end of the first period.

In the second period, the game pivoted when Adam Fantilli scored for the Blue Jackets at 4:39 after a turnover by Washington, giving Columbus a 2-1 lead. Columbus goalie Jet Greaves, who has been outstanding against the Capitals this season, made critical saves to maintain the lead, stopping all shots that came his way after Ovechkin’s goal. “It’s been fun,” said Greaves regarding his recent heavy workload. “Playing a lot of hockey is always fun.”

Columbus extended their lead with another goal from Fantilli early in the third period, quickly making it 3-1. An unassisted goal from Dmitri Voronkov completed the scoring, sealing Washington’s defeat. Fantilli’s contributions were particularly noteworthy, as he found the back of the net twice, showcasing his scoring ability on a critical stage.

The Capitals generated more offensive zone time throughout the game but struggled to convert that pressure into goals. “To generate in the offensive zone, you’ve got to put in the work. You’ve got to get to the net,…make it tough on their goalie the last 24 hours,” said Caps winger Tom Wilson. The loss marked Washington’s seventh defeat in their last ten games, painting a stark contrast to their earlier season performances.

Despite their struggles, the Blue Jackets remain in the playoff race, needing wins in their last two games along with some help from other teams. “We’re trying to get into the playoffs,” said Columbus coach Dean Evason. “Everybody knows we have to win, so we’re conducting ourselves like that.” The loss for Washington leaves them with two crucial road games before the playoffs begin, starting against the New York Islanders on Tuesday.