Close but no victory cigar.
Aliaksei Protas scored two goals including the overtime winner to lift the Washington Capitals over the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Thursday night at Nationwide Arena.
Greaves Once Again Shines
Jet Greaves has shown plenty of potential in each of his call-ups over the previous few years. And perhaps this one won’t be so short-lived.
#CBJ head coach Dean Evason on Jet Greaves' season debut: "I'm excited to have him. I think the players are excited to have him within our room and within our team. He's played well and he gets an opportunity to play." https://t.co/IRNwf7MGy9
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 12, 2024
The AHL Goaltender of the Month for November made his first start of the 2024-25 season on Thursday for the Blue Jackets and made 35 saves on 37 shots to give his team every last fighting chance against the Capitals.
Greaves 25/25 through two periods and the #CBJ opponent enters the final period with a 0 on the scoreboard for the first time in 43 days. https://t.co/u9duOmMUcX
— CBJ Stats (@BlueJacketStats) December 13, 2024
The young netminder held down a shutout through 40 minutes before Protas scored 31 seconds into the third period to tie the score 1-1. Former Blue Jacket Pierre-Luc Dubois (16) and Jakob Chychrun (9) assisted on the goal.
In overtime, Protas scored at 2:23 for the win. Dylan Strome picked up his team-leading 27th assist and Chychrun (10) had his second of the game.
On Jet...
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 13, 2024
Zach Werenski: "Super happy for him to get this opportunity. He was awesome tonight. Not much more I can say besides he had a hell of a game."
Dean Evason: "Fantastic. It's obviously a team game, but I'd argue he won a point for us. Yeah, I was impressed." #CBJ
Columbus ought to look to Greaves as their starter for the foreseeable future.
The Capitals held the advantage in shot attempts (65-38), scoring chances (39-16), and expected goals (3.34-1.8) all at 5v5 per Natural Stat Trick.
The Capitals set a franchise record with their 10th straight road win. Washington is the third team in NHL history to record nine consecutive road regulation wins, which they did last time out in a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
The Blue Jackets stopped a streak of 14 consecutive games allowing an opposition power-play goal as they went 1-for-1 on the penalty kill.
Washington has dominated the season series in recent history, but these games are often tight. Since Jan. 8, 2023, the Capitals are 7-0-1 against Columbus, with seven of the eight games decided by one goal and four of the eight games in overtime.
Werenski and Johnson Stay Hot
Who else?
Zach Werenski (10) from Kent Johnson (8) and Sean Monahan (16) on the power play. That trio connected for the Blue Jackets' lone goal at 14:12 of the second period.
One for the archives: Zach's 100th career goal! It gave the #CBJ a 1-0 lead at the 14:12 mark of the second frame. It's goal #10 of the season for Z, becoming the first defenseman in the NHL to hit double-digits.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 13, 2024
Still 1-0 Blue Jackets, 3:08 left in P2.pic.twitter.com/yCqpgwE5NE
Werenski's 10th goal this season is the 100th goal of his career. He's the first defenseman to reach 10 goals this season and the eighth Blue Jacket in franchise history to reach the century goal mark.
#CBJ players with 100 goals in union blue:
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 13, 2024
Rick Nash 289
Cam Atkinson 213
Boone Jenner 192
Nick Foligno 142
R.J. Umberger 120
David Vyborny 113
Oliver Bjorkstrand 111
And now Zach Werenski 100
Columbus was 1-for-5 on the power play.
Zach Werenski on notching his 100th career goal tonight, the first #CBJ D to do so: It doesnt really mean much, but it is cool for sure. When you look back at your career, as a defenseman I dont want to stop there, but its a milestone for sure. Its a cool moment.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 13, 2024
Kent has been a revelation with 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in 15 games. Monahan has been everything Columbus could have hoped for with 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) in 29 games. He's second on the team with a +12 rating.
Charlie Lindgren made 32 saves.
Fantastic Fabbro
We spotlighted Dante Fabbro last week and though he didn't record a point Thursday, he still found a way to make a difference.
Fabbro led the team (co-led the game with John Carlson) with three blocked shots and led the game in ice time (23:03).
Fabbro has one point (assist) over his last six games but he and Werensnki continue to make an impact on a game-by-game basis.
#NHL GameScore Impact Card for Columbus Blue Jackets on 2024-12-12:#CBJ pic.twitter.com/DF0QU8245T
— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) December 13, 2024
End The Slump
The Jackets conclude their three-game homestand with the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. ET. Columbus looks to end a 1-4-1 slump.
