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Crushing Game Five Loss puts Columbus Blue Jackets on Brink of Elimination

By Lansing Murphy

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 21: Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) and left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrate the second goal by center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) in the second period during the first round Stanley Cup playoff game 5 between the Washington Capitals and the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 21, 2018, at Capital One Arena, in Washington, D.C. The Capitals defeated the Blue Jackets 4-3 in overtime.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 21: Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) and left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrate the second goal by center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) in the second period during the first round Stanley Cup playoff game 5 between the Washington Capitals and the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 21, 2018, at Capital One Arena, in Washington, D.C. The Capitals defeated the Blue Jackets 4-3 in overtime.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Absolutely gut wrenching loss in game five for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

No other way to put it. The 4-3 overtime loss for the Columbus Blue Jackets was absolutely crushing. The loss puts the Jackets on the brink of elimination now down in the series three games to two.

For the first time in the series the Columbus Blue Jackets scored before the Caps. A Matt Calvert shorthanded goal gave the CBJ the advantage halfway through the first period. The Caps were quick to counter though and tied the game three minutes later.

The second period saw the Jackets and Caps trade goals including one of the ugliest goals you’ll ever see. On a breakaway Matt Calvert, did something, and scored. You can’t really call it a move or a deke but the puck ended up in the back of the net somehow.

Later in the second, the Capitals score on a power play which they have done in every game in this series thus far. The Jackets once again took four penalties and gave the Caps prime scoring opportunities that they continue to convert on.

Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets /

Columbus Blue Jackets

It has been preached from every mountain top, yet the Jackets continue to ignore the obvious answer to their problems. Stop. Taking. Penalties.

Third Period Dominance

The third period was the best period of hockey the Columbus Blue Jackets have played all series. They allowed only one shot on Sergei Bobrovsky in the final 20 minutes while peppering Braden Holtby with 16 shots. The Jackets were able to tie the game early in the third period off of Oliver Bjorkstrand‘s first goal of the playoffs but nothing more.

Once again, this series would see a game go to overtime.

In what has become a broken record, the overtime play of the Jackets was good but not good enough. They had their chances but were unable to find a way to beat Holtby. The Caps on the other hand dominated the overtime period and had several incredible chances to win the game but were stonewalled by Sergei Bobrovsky who made the two best saves of the entire series in overtime on Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson from point blank range.

The Caps eventually found a way to beat Bob of a Nichlas Backstrom tipped shot that Bob had no chance on saving. The goal at 11:53 in overtime was a crushing blow that now has the Jackets on the brink of elimination.

The Jackets have to find a way on Monday to play better offensively and to not give the Capitals four power play opportunities. If they can stop the penalties and play a full 60 minutes offensively, this series will go back to Washington for game seven.

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