Saturday, April 12th, 2025 – 12:30 PM ET
Nationwide Arena – Columbus, OH
TV: ABC, ESPN+ – Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: Japers’ Rink
Washington Capitals (50-19-9, 109 points, 1st Metropolitan, 1st East)
at
Columbus Blue Jackets (36-33-9, 81 points, 4th Metropolitan, 9th East)
The Blue Jackets technically aren’t in do or die territory yet, but we’re pretty much there. The Jackets can drop no more than one point in their last four games to keep their playoff hopes alive; winning out allows the Montreal Canadiens to gain one more loser point, while winning out in regulation allows for the Habs to gain two points, as long as it’s not a regulation win of their own. For those who want to scoreboard watch, Montreal plays in Toronto at 7:00.
This is the start of a back-to-back, home-and-home series with the Washington Capitals; the rematch is tomorrow in the District of Columbia. The Eastern Conference champions are led by the NHL’s all-time goal scoring champion, Alex Ovechkin, and with both of those clinched here’s to hoping they’ll allow the Jackets some wiggle room through the final stretch.
Player to Watch
Kirill Marchenko
While one Russian sniper has made headlines throughout the sporting world, Kirill Marchenko has blossomed into a legit scoring threat this season. He has 31 goals and 71 points this season, both career highs, and has had wonderful chemistry with Sean Monahan(ov). And to celebrate 5th Line Appreciation night, the first 5000 fans into NWA today will get Kirill Marchenko bobbleheads. He had a hat trick April 1st, so maybe he can pop off again tonight.
Jackets Notes
Both Elvis Merzlikins and Jake Christiansen have been ruled out tonight with injury. Jack Johnson will likely draw in on defense. … Jet Greaves will likely get another start tonight after a great performance against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, making 39 saves on short notice. … Dean Evason’s postgame comments on Greaves not being called up earlier made waves on CBJ Twitter, but he cleared the air yesterday after practice.
Season Series
11/2/24 – CBJ 2 at WSH 7
12/12/24 – WSH 2 at CBJ 1 (OT)
4/12/25 – WSH at CBJ
4/13/25 – CBJ at WSH
Stats
| Washington | Columbus | |
| 3.59 (1) | GPG | 3.17 (11) |
| 2.72 (9) | GAPG | 3.40 (27) |
| 23.7% (12) | PP% | 19.7% (22) |
| 81.6% (6) | PK% | 76.1% (25) |
| 50.4% (12) | 5v5 Shot Attempt % | 48.7% (21) |
| 51.3% (9) | 5v5 Unblocked Shot Attempt % | 49.0% (20) |
| 11.0% (1) | 5v5 Shooting % | 10.0% (5) |
| .911 (18) | 5v5 Save % | .904 (22) |
| Alex Ovechkin, 42 | G Leader | Kirill Marchenko, 31 |
| Dylan Strome, 51 | A Leader | Zach Werenski, 56 |
| Dylan Strome, 77 | P Leader | Zach Werenski, 76 |
| Brandon Duhaime, 96 | PIM Leader | Matthieu Olivier, 134 |
| 24-11-3 | Home/Road | 24-10-5 |
| 5-4-1 | Last 10 | 5-5-0 |
Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets
| Boone Jenner | Sean Monahan | Kirill Marchenko |
| James van Riemsdyk | Adam Fantilli | Kent Johnson |
| Dmitri Voronkov | Cole Sillinger | Mathieu Olivier |
| Zach Aston-Reese | Sean Kuraly | Justin Danforth |
| Zach Werenski | Dante Fabbro |
| Denton Mateychuk | Ivan Provorov |
| Jack Johnson | Erik Gudbranson |
| Jet Greaves |
| Daniil Tarasov |
Washington Capitals
| Alex Ovechkin | Dylan Strome | Taylor Raddysh |
| Connor McMichael | Pierre-Luc Dubois | Tom Wilson |
| Andrew Mangiapane | Lars Eller | Ryan Leonard |
| Brandon Duhaime | Nic Dowd | Anthony Beauvillier |
| Rasmus Sandin | John Carlson |
| Dylan McIlrath | Trevor van Riemsdyk |
| Martin Fehervary | Matt Roy |
| Charlie Lindgren |
| Hunter Shepard |