NHL playoffs 2018: Capitals vs. Blue Jackets TV schedule
By Adam Stocker
The Washington Capitals face the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Here is the series schedule and how you can watch and stream every game.
The Washington Capitals won the Metropolitan Division, claiming the second seed in the Eastern Conference. However, the Capitals enter the playoff looking to shed the label of choking in the playoffs.
In the Alexander Ovechkin era, the Capitals have failed to get out of the second round of the playoffs. To add pressure to Washington, the Capitals have had a late season goalie controversy. Braden Holtby struggled in the second half of the season, leading head coach Barry Trotz to replace him with Philipp Grubauer in Game 1.
Columbus finished fourth in the Metropolitan Division, eight points behind Washington. Sergei Bobrovsky again had a very good season in goalie for the Blue Jackets, who will need their goalie to come up big if they are going to advance.
Offensively, Artemi Panarin will be depended on to lead Columbus. The winger led the club with 27 goals and 82 points. However, the Blue Jackets scored the fewest goals of any playoff team in the east. The trade deadline acquisition of Thomas Vanek played off in the regular season as the Austrian sniper recorded 15 points in 19 games. However, Vanek will have to continue scoring at that pace if he wants to remove his reputation as a poor playoff performer.
Capitals vs. Blue Jackets TV Schedule
*If necessary. All times in ET.
Game 1: Thursday, April 12, 7:30 p.m. @ Washington
TV: USA, NBCSWA, FS-O
Game 2: Sunday, April 15, 7:30 p.m. @ Tampa Bay
TV: NBCSN, NBCSWA, FS-O
Game 3: Tuesday, April 17, 7:30 p.m. @ Columbus
TV: NBCSN, FS-O, NBCSWA
Game 4: Thursday, April 19, 7:30 p.m. @ Columbus
TV: USA, FS-O, NBCSWA
*Game 5: Saturday, April 21, TBD @ Washington
*Game 6: Monday, April 23, TBD @ Columbus
*Game 7: Wednesday, April 25, TBD @ Washington
Live Stream: You can also watch every game live on Fubo.TV. Sign up now for a free trial.
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Alexander Ovechkin led the NHL with 49 goals this season. Columbus will likely try matching Ovechkin’s line against their top defenseman Seth Jones as much as possible. With Columbus trying to eliminate Ovechkin’s line, the Capitals will need Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom to step up when they are not playing with Ovechkin.
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