Capitals, Blue Jackets eye reset after losses

Both the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets have managed to earn points, just not consistently enough for sustained success so far this season.

Each looks to rebound from its latest defeat when the Capitals host the Blue Jackets on Monday night.

The Capitals followed a brutal 2-6-2 stretch by winning three in a row prior to Saturday's 5-3 home loss to Tampa Bay. Washington's Justin Sourdif opened the scoring just 1:06 into the contest, but the Lightning scored the next four goals of the opening period and never trailed again.

"Every guy on the ice just has to be a little bit better," Capitals veteran Tom Wilson told the club's official website.

While the defeat ended Washington's four-game point streak, it has allowed 13 goals in the last three contests. Logan Thompson, who was pulled after yielding those four first-period goals Saturday on only six shots faced, has a 4.44 goals-against average in his last four starts.

Meanwhile, backup Charlie Lindgren has allowed at least four goals in four of his seven starts this season for Washington.

Thompson, however, made 34 saves during the Capitals' 5-1 win at Columbus on Oct. 24. Sourdif and Wilson scored in that contest, as did Washington superstar Alex Ovechkin, whose four-game goal streak ended Saturday.

Ovechkin has recorded a goal in five straight games versus Columbus. He's totaled 28 with 17 assists in 51 career contests against the Blue Jackets.

Columbus has won just four times in the last 17 meetings with the Capitals. However, one of those wins came in its most recent visit to Washington last season.

The Blue Jackets took a 3-1 lead after Zach Werenski's seventh goal of the season near the midway mark of the third period at Detroit on Saturday, but they allowed the host to tie things and eventually lost 4-3 in overtime.

Columbus, 7-0-2 when leading after two periods this season, is currently in a 4-1-3 stretch.

"We're not going to concentrate on one period," Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. "We're looking for consistency in all periods.

"We want the team to play the same way regardless of the score, up one or two, or down one or two."

Despite Columbus' most recent result, Werenski has three goals and seven assists during a six-game point streak. The star defenseman scored during the Blue Jackets' 4-1 victory at Washington in 2024-25.

However, teammate Kirill Marchenko, who leads the team with 22 points (one ahead of Werenski), has been blanked during each of the last three games. Marchenko also did not register a point versus Washington in October.

Columbus' Jet Greaves (2.80 goals-against average), who stopped 29 of 33 shots at Detroit on Saturday, made 25 saves against the Capitals earlier this season. Meanwhile, teammate Elvis Merzlikins has registered a 4.06 GAA while losing each of his last three starts.

Washington defenseman Jakob Chychrun has three goals with six assists during his seven-game point streak.

--Field Level Media