7:07 pm
November 12

Capitals @ Blue Jackets

Who will WIN this matchup?

Washington Capitals (7-2-4)

@ Columbus Blue Jackets (7-3-0)

 

Starting Goalies:

Ilya Samsonov (WSH): Confirmed

Joonas Korpisalo (CBJ): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

Washington Capitals: (-135)

Columbus Blue Jackets: (+115)

 

• The rested Columbus Blue Jackets will go for their fourth straight win when they host the Washington Capitals on Friday night. The Blue Jackets have not played since defeating the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 on Saturday. The original schedule called for the Blue Jackets to play their past two games — both against the Avalanche — in Helsinki, Finland. Those games were moved back to the U.S. because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the Blue Jackets have back-to-back games against the Capitals and New York Rangers as they look to build on their 7-3-0 start.

• Columbus will be hoping the break doesn’t cool off winger Oliver Bjorkstrand. The 26-year-old, who led the Blue Jackets with 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) in 56 games last season, has five goals and eight assists through 10 games, more than anyone in franchise history except Rick Nash and Artemi Panarin.

• Boone Jenner has totaled three points over his last three games and leads Columbus with six goals.

• The Blue Jackets’ 10-game start is tied for the best in their history (2017-18).

• The banged-up Capitals, who will be looking for their third straight win, are playing the second of a back-to-back. With four forwards on the injured list, Washington was also without goalie Vitek Vanecek on Thursday night.

• Zach Fucale, 26, made 21 saves in his NHL debut, and the visiting Capitals defeated the Detroit Red Wings 2-0. Fucale, called up from Hershey of the American Hockey League, became the first Capitals goalie to earn a shutout in his debut.

• All Washington’s offense came when Dmitry Orlov and Lars Eller scored in a 10-second span midway through the first period.

• Alex Ovechkin had an assist but didn’t register on shot on net and remains tied with Brett Hull for fourth in NHL history in goals (741).

• At least for now, the Capitals have four rookies mixed in among their 12 forwards, though Laviolette spread them out over three lines.

• Ilya Samsonov, who backed up Fucale, could get the start in goal Friday if Vanecek remains out.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Washington Capitals
Previous Pick
Next Pick