Columbus Blue Jackets @ Washington Capitals: 2023 Preseason Game 8 Recap

Tonight was a free game for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals to test their best and undecided. It is already the final preseason game of 2023, and this game was a preview of the competitiveness to come for both teams. Neither team disappointed in period 1, as the score stayed 0-0 after the opening 20 minutes. Elvis Merzzlikins faced 9 shot attempts by the Caps and turned away all of them. We only had 4 on Darcy Kuemper, but there was still plenty of time to increase that number. 

For how consistently back and forth period 1 was, period 2 would be the opposite with plenty of action. First, the Blue Jackets would strike at 4:57! Our captain would connect with Emil Bemstrom, the primary assist, and Alexander Texier, the secondary assist. Sadly, the 1-0 Blue Jackets lead wouldn't last long as John Carlson would score for the Capitals. They would then extend on that goal thanks to Alex Ovechkin at 10:34. Ivan Provorov tried to help Elivs Merzlikins keep it out of our net, but this didn't happen, and the Capitals would have a lead at home 2-1. At the end of this period, a scrum would break out on the ice with Boone Jenner and Alex Ovechkin. Both men would have minor penalties split between this and the final regulation period. 

With the penalty far in the rearview mirror, Cole Sillinger would score his first goal tonight, tying the game! This goal would come at 6:29, and the only assist would belong to Patrik Laine. With less than half the period remaining, Ivan Povorov and Jake Bean would serve penalties simultaneously, giving the Capitals a 5-on-3 chance. Erik Gudbranson wasn't in the game, so the forward, Zach Werenski, Damon Severson, David Jiricek, and Elvis Merzlikins would be left to fend off the Caps, and they would! Best of all, Adam Fantilli would break the tie at 16:17! His connection with Kirill Marchenko and Damon Severson would take the Blue Jackets to a 3-2 lead. Patty (Patrik Laine) would finish the Capitals' chance to tie the game by scoring an empty net goal, leading to a 4-2 Blue Jackets win! Cole Sillinger would have the only assist on this Laine goal at 19:04, so it was a big night for Sillinger at 1-1-2 in just one period of tonight's game.  

Elvis Merzlikins 25 saves on the 27 shots by the Capitals< 0.926%

This was a big game due to the number of alumni players on both sides tonight. So, this win tonight is more than it seems. This is a glimpse of a team ready to put last season behind them and skate into a fresh start. I'm confident this team can win and shock the NHL in the 2023-24 season. We gained a fantastic top center in the 2023 NHL Draft, Adam Fantilli, and other players. We signed some solid new talent. Alexander Texier is back after stepping away last season to be with his family in France, and it looks like he never did. Elvis Merzlikins looked like himself tonight in net, and the improved lines before him helped his effort be effortless at most times. In just 4 days, 21 hours, and 15 minutes, we will see the start of a new beginning for this team in a season unlike any other. 

LET'S GO 

CBJ!         

 

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