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Preview: Jackets Look to Beat Capitals with Familiar Face

Monday, February 26th, 2018; 7 pm est
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
TV: Fox Sports Ohio
Radio: 97.1 WBNS FM
Opponent’s Blog: Japer’s Rink

Columbus Blue Jackets; 31-26-5, 67 points, 5th Metropolitan, 8th East

vs

Washington Capitals; 35-20-7, 77 points, 1st Metropolitan, 4th East

Season Series

02/06/2018 – CBJ (2) @ WSH (4) – game faceoff – preview – recaps
02/26/2018 – WSH @ CBJ

Stats

Washington   Columbus
3.08 (9) GPG 2.53 (29)
2.95 (19) GAPG 2.72 (10)
21.7 (7) PP% 14.6% (30)
80.0% (17) PK% 76.7% (27)
48.08% (23) EV Corsi % 51.62% (8)
101.8 (3) EV PDO 99.5(20)
Alex Ovechkin, 38 G Leader Josh Anderson, 18
Evgeny Kuznetsov, 42 A Leader Artemi Panarin, 33
Alex Ovechkin, 70 P Leader Artemi Panarin, 50
Tom Wilson, 145 PIM Leader Nick Foligno, 46
14-11-5 Home / Road 18-11-2
5-3-2 Last 10 4-5-1

After coming off a big win against the Blackhawks on Saturday, the Columbus Blue Jackets look to grab their second game in a row against the Washington Capitals. If they win, it will be the first time during the 2017-18 season the Jackets were able to crack the Capitals code.

Alex Ovechkin is going to be a man on a mission. Since he couldn’t play in the Olympics and win gold one thing will be on Ovechkin’s mind, the Stanley Cup. When Ovechkin is fired up, the whole team  is fired up.

Shutting him and Evgeny Kuznetsov will be one of the biggest keys to winning tonight’s game. As well as, making sure Tom Wilson doesn’t pull out any tricks from his magic bag. Wilson tends to provide positive reinforcement for the Capitals when they play against the Jackets. He also plays a more aggressive game against the Jackets as well. Basically, the boys in union blue need to be alert and keep their heads up when Wilson is on the ice.

Yesterday, for the first time in history, the Jackets made a trade that made all fans happy. They traded a 4th round pick for former Jacket, Mark Letestu. Fans have practically been begging all season to bring him back “home” to Nationwide.

The “TBA” spot in the fourth line will likely be our good ol’ buddy  Letestu Lebestu.

Tonight will be the first time Taylor Chorney plays against his former squad. Look for Chorney to make the Captials regret letting him go.

Projected Lineups

Artemi Panarin Pierre-Luc Dubois Cam Atkinson
Boone Jenner Alexander Wennberg Josh Anderson
Matt Calvert Brandon Dubinsky Oliver Bjorkstrand
Nathan Gerbe Lukas Sedlak TBA
Zach Werenski Seth Jones
Jack Johnson Ryan Murray
Taylor Chorney David Savard
Sergei Bobrovsky
Joonas Korpisalo
Alex Ovechkin Nicklas Backstrom Tom Wilson
Brett Connolly Evgeny Kuznetsov TJ Oshie
Chandler Stephenson Lars Eller Andre Burakovsky
Devante Smith-Pelley Jay Beagle Alex Chiasson
Dmitri Orlov Matt Niskanen
Michal Kempny John Carlson
Brooks Orpik Christian Djoos
Braden Holtby
Philipp Grubauer