Washington Capitals @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 1/31/23 Game Recap

Can you believe this is the final game of January and the last before the 2023 NHL All-Star Game? The Columbus Blue Jackets would host the Washington Capitals tonight, and this game didn't disappoint. Let's recap some hockey, 5th Line. 

This would be a fast-paced game from puck drop, which is expected against the Capitals, no matter which arena you play in. Goal one would come from G. Hathaway at 5:06, giving his Capitals a 1-0 lead over our Blue Jackets. The second goal would also belong to the Capitals, coming from T. Von Riemsdyk at 14:25. The 2-0 Capitals lead wouldn't last long after this goal, however, as Andrew Peeke would score the fifth goal of his 2022-23 NHL Season at 14:40. The only assist on this goal would be number seventeen of the season for Patrik Laine. The score would now be a 2-1 Capitals lead, which would carry into Period 2.  

Alright, there was a fight this period, but I can't comment too much on it since it happened while I was away eating dinner. This fight would result in the Capitals getting a Powerplay, however, we wouldn't let them capitalize on it (no pun intended). That being said, T. Van Riemsdyk would score his second goal of the game at 8:26, extending his team's lead to 3-1.  The Blue Jackets wouldn't allow the Capitals to get the best of them on home ice, however, as Eric Robinson would add his fourth goal to his 2022-23 NHL season at 11:03. Again, this goal would have just one assist, going to Mathieu Olivier, his fifth this season. The Blue Jackets would leave this period the same as the first, down just one goal to the Capitals. 

This game would go back and forth for some time, knotted at that 3-2 Capitals lead. At 12:44, Johnny Gaudreau would get in some practice before his 2023 All-Star Game appearance! This marks his fourteenth goal this season. The Blue Jackets would keep their theme of single-assist goals going as Gavin Bayreuther would add his fourth assist to his 2022-23 NHL Season on this Gaudreau goal. 3-3 tie and plenty of time for either team to score again. That being said, with some highlight real saves, Joonas Korpisalo (or Korpi-save-o, if you will), allowed his teamate to tie this game, no doubt. At the last second, Kent Johnson would put his body on the line to block a Capitals shot coming at Joonas Korpisalo, solidifying an Overtime in Nationwide Arena tonight.   

Sadly, our extra hockey tonight would last a matter of seconds. E. Kuznetsov would score at just 00:26. The extra point tonight goes to the Capitals, but hey, at least we got a point tonight too. The main bummer about this loss is how well this team kept coming back and how Korpisalo just did everything and more in net.  4-3 is your game final.  

For his goal, which tied this game and sent us to Overtime, Johnny Gaudreau would be awarded the Second Star of the Game. Congrats to him, and good luck in the 2023 NHL All-Star Game too! 

Unless any injury updates come this week, this weekend will be the next time you hear from me, 5th Line. I'll be following Johnny Gaudreau while he represents our Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL All-Star Game this weekend. Remember, we have the Skills Challange Competitions on February 3rd at 7:00 PM and then the games on February 4th!  

Go CBJ!    

 

 

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