Capitals vs. Blue Jackets Game 6: Full highlights, final score and more

Alex Ovechkin hit a milestone as the Washington Capitals eliminated the Columbus Blue Jackets with a 6-3 win in Game 6.

After dropping the first two games at home in overtime, the Washington Capitals gave the Columbus Blue Jackets a taste of their own medicine. The Capitals have won three straight games, including two in overtime to take a 3-2 series lead. The series shifted to the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio for Game 6.

The Columbus faithful began to raise the noise level as they dropped the puck on Game 6. Everyone in the building knew this game was a must win for the Blue Jackets. The first 10 minutes were played close to the vest by both teams. Close checking and a clogged neutral zone limited the opportunities for both teams.

The ice began to open up with a flurry by the Blue Jackets. An impressive redirection by Cam Atkinson was foiled by Braden Holtby. The big save led to the Capitals heading toward Sergei Bobrovsky. Washington would capitalize on Columbus’ winded players due to an extended shift. Dmitry Orlov received a pass from his fellow defenseman Matt Niskanen and navigated to the high slot before ripping it past Bobrovsky for the game’s first goal.

Minor penalties dictated the start of the second period. The Capitals were able to kill off Nicklas Backstrom’s hooking penalty. Columbus returned the favor by keeping Washington off the scoreboard during their abbreviated 5-on-3 power play.

Columbus captured the momentum after an excellent penalty kill. Nick Foligno took a pass from Ryan Murray and entered Washington’s zone. The captain of the Blue Jackets circled to his right and wristed the puck behind Braden Holtby to tie the game.

Washington’s captain took notice. Alexander Ovechkin used his big frame to deposit the puck into the net after Bobrovsky’s right pad save on Brooks Orpik. Ovechkin’s fourth goal of the playoffs gave Washington a 2-1 lead.

He didn’t stop there. Ovechkin forced the issue and drew a holding penalty on Columbus’ Seth Jones. On the ensuing powerplay, Alexander Ovechkin blasted a one timer into the net to give his squad a 3-1 lead going into the final period.

The youngest player on the ice cut Washington’s lead to 3-2. A Matt Calvert trip on Christian Djoos went undetected and he was able to find Pierre-Luc Dubois in front, who beat Holtby. The Blue Jackets’ fans began to make some noise for the first time since Foligno’s goal.

The fans weren’t loud for long. Devante Smith-Pelley flew down the left wing and ripped the puck past Bobrovsky’s glove hand to regain a two goal lead. 94 seconds later, Chandler Stephenson scored his first career playoff goal, while shorthanded. Jay Beagle chipped the puck off the glass and the rest was up to Stephenson, who didn’t disappoint.

The Capitals didn’t have a chance to catch their breath because Columbus wouldn’t go away. The Blue Jackets’ captain matched Ovechkin with his second goal of the night. Boone Jenner snuck a pass past the Washington defense to Nick Foligno, who laid it in past Holtby.

It was getting late for the Blue Jackets. A two goal deficit forced Columbus’ head coach, John Tortorella, to pull Sergei Bobrovsky for an extra attacker with 2:58 remaining in regulation. The plan backfired when Lars Eller whipped the puck down the ice into the yawning net to give the Capitals a 6-3 win.

Three Stars

1. Alexander Ovechkin: The Capitals’ captain wanted to return to the D.C. area to rest up for the Penguins and not for a Game 7 against the Blue Jackets. Ovechkin’s 50th and 51st career playoff goals in the second period gave the Capitals some breathing room. Ovechkin’s power play goal proved to be a backbreaker for the very game Blue Jackets.

2. Braden Holtby: The Washington goaltender stopped 35 of 38 shots. Holtby was excellent when the Capitals needed him to be. Columbus created a lot of traffic in the crease, but couldn’t solve Holtby. Once the Capitals grabbed a two-goal lead, they leaned on their goalie to come up with crucial save. Holtby was up to the task.

3. Nick Foligno: The Blue Jackets’ captain refused to go down without a fight. Foligno netted two goals to keep his team in the game. He set the tone with the game’s first goal. Unfortunately, the Capitals were too much on this night.

Highlights

Next Game

With the Game 6 victory, the Capitals have eliminated the Blue Jackets from the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Capitals will take on the two-time defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round. It’ll be the third straight season the Penguins and Capitals will meet in the playoffs.

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