Takeaways: Capitals Overcome Sloppy Start, Pile On Goals To Rout Jackets

The Washington Capitals have seen themselves fall back into a bit of the sloppy patterns that plagued them in a rough start to the season, but they were fortunately able to rectify their errors and score their way out of Nationwide Arena with a win.

Despite turnovers, T.J. Oshie and the Capitals were able to generate offense and get back to basics for a big 6-2 win over Columbus. The victory ties Washington with the New York Rangers for third in the Metropolitan Division, and extends the team's point streak to nine games and road win streak to seven games.

Here are all the takeaways from the win:

Washington Capitals Start Sloppy, Pile On Goals To Make Up For It

The Capitals didn't have an ideal start to action on Thursday, as the Blue Jackets took an early lead following some mistakes and poor plays in front. Johnny Gaudreau was the one to make them pay with his first goal in nine games after a fumble from Nicolas Aube-Kubel in front and a bad read in the neutral zone seconds before. That set the stage for more odd-man rushes that led to Columbus going to the room with a 1-0 lead and several scoring chances.

After that, Washington cleaned things up a bit, as the team got back to its game and got offense going. All four of the team's goals came in the second, with all four lines battling and piling on the pressure. After Oshie tied to open the second, Aube-Kubel made up for his early mistakes and put his team in front with his first goal with the Capitals, as he picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and wheeled into the offensive zone before firing a quick shot past Elvis Merzlikins.

Then, with the game tied later in the frame, Martin Fehervary scored on one of the strangest plays of the season that saw a Dylan Strome shot go off his helmet and up and over Merzlikins to make it 3-2.

Garnet Hathaway had another goal to add just 1:37 minutes later as he rocketed home a nice feed from Anthony Mantha with Merzlikins down and scrambling. Hathaway now has points in three of his last four games, and Mantha extended his point streak to four games while playing on the fourth line with Nic Dowd out.

And then, of course, the power play stepped up.

Power Play Clicks For Washington Capitals As Oshie, Ovechkin Convert With Strome Leading Charge

Going into Thursday, the Capitals had 14 power-play goals over their last 22 games. They got one chance against Buffalo but couldn't make anything happen. That changed in Columbus, as the team struck on both power-play opportunities.

Oshie struck on the first man advantage in the third, striking on a rebound in front for his second goal of the game to make it 5-2. He is now up to seven goals on the season and now has two points in as many games since returning from an upper-body injury.

Then, it was Alex Ovechkin's turn. The 37-year-old, who was named to the 2023 NHL All-Star Game on Thursday, struck from the office for career goal on the team's second opportunity for career goal No. 809. He is up to 29 goals this season and is on a four-game goal scoring-streak, with seven goals over that span.

Dylan Strome, meanwhile, worked as a great catalyst. He showed patience and poise and made the right calls with the puck, and he finished the night with three assists. Two of those came on the PP.

Washington Capitals Ice Chips

– Evgeny Kuznetsov picked up two assists to hit the 30-assist mark and extend his point streak to seven games.

– Aliaksei Protas picked up an assist and has three helpers in his last three games.

– Darcy Kuemper stopped 23 of 25 shots (.920 save percentage).