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Columbus Blue Jackets Pick Up Point, Fall in Shootout to Capitals

By Lansing Murphy |
Jan 5, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) looks up at the scoreboard during a stoppage in play against the Washington Capitals in the second period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 5, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) looks up at the scoreboard during a stoppage in play against the Washington Capitals in the second period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Columbus Blue Jackets pick up one point last night in Washington. On the back of a master performance from Sergei Bobrovsky, the CBJ were able to force a shootout and earn a road point.

In the top game of a packed Thursday night NHL schedule, Sergei Bobrovsky put on a show for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei’s best performance of the year thus far wasn’t enough though as the CBJ fell in a shootout to the Washington Capitals.

The Jackets were outplayed the entire game. The Capitals put 45 shots on Sergei Bobrovksy with only one finding the back of the net. According to corsica.com, Washington had a Corsi for percentage of 64.9%, and absolutely dominate number.

Seth Jones was able to briefly secure the lead in the game for the Jackets when he scored just 41 seconds into the third period. Washington’s Dmitry Orlov was able to solve the Bob puzzle though and scored six minutes later.

The overtime was entertaining and had plenty of scoring opportunities. Both Braden Holtby and Bob were fantastic though and forced a shootout. In the shootout, T.J. Oshie, wearing red, white, and blue again, beat Bobrovski in the first shot of the shootout. Reminiscent of his performance in the Sochi Olympics where he beat Bob four out of six times, the Oshie goal was all the Caps needed as Hotbly stopped three lackluster shots from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Physical Back-to-Back Takes Toll

Coming off a physical game just 24 hours before, the Jackets were unable to keep up with the Caps. The game against Toronto clearly took it’s toll as the CBJ were unable to keep up the high energy pace Washington played with.

Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets /

Columbus Blue Jackets

Sloppy entrance in the offensive zone plagued the boys in blue and led to very few sustained offensive zone time. Defensive play all around was less than stellar, especially from the forwards.

The second period saw the CBJ in the box for three minor penalties. They were able to kill them all off but the entire period was all Washington’s. No momentum or rhythm was apparent in the play during the second period forcing Bob to put the team on his back.

The play of Bobrovsky can’t be undersold. He was by far the best player on the ice Thursday, and with any other goalie in the net, the score could have easily been 4-0. His .978 save percentage helped extend his league leading percentage of .932. In a duel of two of the top three goalies in the NHL, Bob showed that he should win the Vezina.

Related Story: Bob: Vezina and Hart Trophy Winner?

Caps Build on Division Lead

With the two points, the Capitals put some breathing room between themselves, the CBJ and Penguins. The Pens fell in a shootout to the Ottawa Senators turning the Caps lead to two points on the Pens and three on the CBJ with nine games left.

The Caps still have three games against the worst two teams in the NHL over the final nine games. A three point gap this close to the end of the season will be challenging for the CBJ to close. One remaining game between the teams looms just over a week away in Columbus.

The Jackets only get one point out of back-to-back games against the Maple Leafs and Capitals. Still solidly in third in the metro, the CBJ will be back in action on Saturday against the Flyers at home.

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