Columbus Blue Jackets @ Washington Capitals: 2024-25 NHL Preseason Game 3

Once the Columbus Blue Jackets could finally leave Columbus to journey to Washington D. C. it was clear the 7:00 p.m. puck drop wouldn't be possible. So, pregame was pushed from 6:30 to 8:15, and puck drop was at 8:39. With Daniil Tarasov in net for his first preseason start, the game would begin and I wasn't surprised with A. Ovechkin got a puck past him at 6:58, giving his Capitals a 1-0 lead. I mean, it's what Ovi does and why he's chasing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record. A. Manglapane would have the only assist on that Capitals goal. Adam Fantilli was quick to answer for the Blue Jackets at 10:47, and Dimitri Voronkov would have the only assist on his goal. These are the first points this preseason for both players. Just a few minutes later, James Malatesta would race up the ice and have a goal all to himself at 13:49! This is also his first point of the preseason and he also gave the visiting team its first lead of the evening. The Capitals don't go away quietly, so of course they'd score again before the first 20 minutes were up. That goal would come from J. Vrana at 14:01. The assists would go to C. McMichael and J. Carlson. So, an exciting first period would end with a 2-2 score. 

The Blue Jackets wouldn't miss a beat, coming out to score two more goals early in period 2. The first would be from Mathieu Oliver, giving himself two goals in as many preseason games. Hunter McKown and Mikael Pyyhtia would both add their first points to the preseason. This goal would come at 2:50, and as I said before, it would be followed up with a second goal just a few minutes later at 5:25. That second goal of period 2 would be the combined effort from two former Michigan players. Adam Fantilli would have his second of the night, fed to him by former teammate Gavin Brindley! Now, the Capitals would get one back after a Jordan Harris tripping penalty put them on the powerplay. The goal was scored at 10.01 by D. Strome and had assists from A. Cristall and J.. Chychrum. The Blue Jackets weren't done scoring yet as Mikael Pyyhtia would score a goal of his own, giving him a multipoint night in the span of one period! Gavin Brindley would pick up his second point (second assist) of the evening, too. In addition, Trey Fix-Wolansky would also have his first point of the preseason with the secondary assist. So, after a goal-scoring whirlwind, the Blue Jackets would lead in Washington 5-3 after 40 minutes of hockey. 

As has been the practice this preseason, Daniil Tarasov's night would end after period 2. This would allow his backup, Pavel Cajan, to show how he's grown in the offseason. Tarasov finished with a .824 save percentage after 14 saves on the 17 Washington Capital's shots. All would be quiet back-and-forth until the Blue Jackets would get a powerplay but they wouldn't be able to convert it to a goal. Shortly after this, at 11:46, J. Claychrun would single-handedly bring his capitals within a goal of tying the game. The 5-4 Blue Jackets lead could only get better with a third goal from one particular player and at 16:00, Adam Fantilli would do just that, completing his hat trick! This goal would be his alone and give the Blue Jackets back their two-goal lead, bringing us to a 6-4 score. Adam was drafted with the hopes he'd become a key part of the franchise's future, and seeing him bounce back from the calf laceration that ended his rookie season early, I am more sure than ever that this will happen. There were a lot of parts tonight to this franchise's future that shown bright tonight. A part of the present, Cole Sillinger, would add a cherry on top of this game at 18:21. He'd sail a puck into an empty Capitals net, bringing the Blue Jackets to a 7-4 lead. But, wait, we're still not done, 5th Line! With the Capitals on the powerplay with seconds left, Mathieu Oliver would simply clear the puck into the Capitals empty net! So, he had two goals tonight, and gave the Blue Jackets an 8-4 win at 19:37! Uh, wow! 

Also, with period 3 to himself, Pavil Cajan would have a .857 save percentage. This would come after he had 6 saves on 7 Capitals shots. Not bad, sir, not bad at all. 

The Blue Jackets scored on 2 out of 3 chances on the powerplay. The Capitals had 1 goal but just 2 changes on the powerplay. They held the Capitals to just 24 shots on goal. Ovechkin had just one goal, and they stole the puck from him many times. Adam Fantilli had a goal in all three periods, giving him a preseason hat trick. Mathiew Oliver had 2 goals. 10 different Blue Jackets players had a point tonight, and four had multipoint games. All in all, I can't find anything to criticize after this game started 1:39 late due to the Blue Jackets' travel being delayed by the remanence of a hurricane! A 8-4 win, away, against one of the best players the NHL has ever seen is nothing to bat an eye at, preseason, regular season, or post-season. Well done, guys!

The Blue Jackets will play the Buffalo Sabers tomorrow night in Nationwide Arena. The puck with drop at home at 7:00 p.m. 

GO CBJ!