The Columbus Blue Jackets pulled off a stunning op win against the Washington Capitals.

Lee ForbesMarch 22, 2023

The Blue Jackets’ five-game stint has finally come to an end.

It was long, painful in the middle, and thanks to impressive stamina on Tuesday in Washington, including Johnny Gaudreau’s lung-burning 2:43 shift in overtime, it ended the way it started last week in San Jose.

Despite trailing for most of the game, the Blue Jackets prevailed over the Washington Capitals 7-6 in overtime thanks to Jack Roslovich’s second goal of the game, which ended a 2-on-1 with Gaudreau in overtime, leaving his teammate on fire. in the lungs. restore.

“I was very proud of the guys in our dressing room, the way we held up,” Gaudreau said. “We just resisted all night and ended up winning in overtime. I was happy for our team and happy for (junior coach Pascal Vincent). It’s great for him to get his first NHL win as a head coach.”

Vincent was on the bench for the Blue Jackets for the second straight game, while head coach Brad Larsen was out due to the death of a family member. Vincent was also on the bench when Larsen missed four games due to a COVID-19 infection last season.

“The guys kept fighting and fighting,” Vincent said. “It was an interesting game. It was fun to train her. It was fun to play this game. It was good hockey.”

It was a little crazy too, as thirteen combined goals created a protocol filled with goals, assists and points.

Roslovich and Adam Bockvist each scored two goals, while 12 Blue Jackets scored at least a point, including seven with two goals. Defenseman Nick Jensen scored two goals for the Capitals, who had 13 player-record points and four of two each.

Gaudreau, Patrick Lane and rookie Kent Johnson provided two assists, with forwards Eric Robinson and Emil Bemstrom each scoring goals and assists, while Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner tied the score at 6-6 with 46.9 seconds left in third and an empty net.” Columbus.”

Rookie Daniil Tarasov conceded six goals on 37 shots and started for the fourth time in his last five games for the Blue Jackets (22-41-7). Charlie Lindgren allowed seven goals on 39 shots for the Capitals (33-31-8).

Alex Ovechkin was awarded before the game for beating Gordie Howe on the NHL’s top goals list on Dec. 23 against the Winnipeg Jets. He then made history again by scoring the first goal of the first period, which was credited to him after he initially moved to Ryan Strome.

It was the Washington captain’s 40th goal and the 13th time he scored as many goals in his career, one more than all-time NHL leader Wayne Gretzky. It was Ovechkin’s 820th career goal and moved him 75 points clear of Gretzky for the top spot in all-time goals.

It seemed less significant by the time Jenner scored the Blue Jackets’ third goal in Game 3, a last regulation minute equalizer after Jensen had taken the Capitals 6-5 with 4:36 to play.

Columbus started the third 5-3 down and tied the game at 8:35 in the opening thanks to goals from Bockvist and Bemstrom, who assisted Bockvist in the second. After a sluggish first period, the Blue Jackets forced an OT with three goals in each of the second and third periods to overcome the Capitals’ 3-0 and 3-1 lead in the first, 3-2, 4-2, 4-3 and 5.-3 in the second, and 5-4 and 6-5 in the third.

“We know we have a good number,” Vincent said. “We know we have good people. We know they want to compete regardless of the standings right now. These guys are proud of themselves in the dressing room, they want to show themselves and create something for the future. So I’m proud of them.”

Finishing the trip 2-3-0, the Blue Jackets get the Wednesday off before practice on Thursday for back-to-back games Friday against the New York Islanders and Saturday in Montreal.

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@BrianHeger