Just like Thursday's game against Nashville, this game isn’t technically a must-win, but if the Blue Jackets want to make up ground in the Metropolitan Division, this is a game you need to win.
Washington sits in first place with 58 points, five points ahead of Columbus, and the Blue Jackets can ill afford to fall further behind if they want to challenge for the division crown.
The Blue Jackets are coming off 4-3 overtime win against the Predators, a game that should not have gone to overtime. The Blue Jackets blew a two-goal lead late in the third period after grabbing a two-goal lead in only 11 seconds.
You can't be doing that against a team like the Capitals, one that you're chasing in the standings and always plays well with the lead. The Blue Jackets need to jump ahead early and close this one out.
PROJECTED LINES:
Panarin – Dubois – Atkinson
Bjorkstrand – Wennberg – Duclair
Foligno – Jenner – Anderson
Sedlak – Nash – Stenlund
DEFENSEMEN:
Werenski – Jones
Nutivaara – Savard
Harrington – Kukan
GOALTENDER:
Bobrovsky
STORYLINES
- The Blue Jackets made a small roster move Friday, sending down Eric Robinson and recalling Kevin Stenlund from the AHL. With Brandon Dubinsky injured, it left the Blue Jackets in need of another center. Stenlund can play center and gives the Blue Jackets depth at the position.
- Ryan Murray is sick and did not travel with the team to Washington.
- After being away from the team Thursday, Sergei Bobrovsky is back. He spoke about what happened on Tuesday, and how he was upset at the loss. It's expected he will be in net tonight, and after what has happened, you can imagine we see nothing but best from Bobrovsky.
- This is the third match-up between these two teams this season. The Blue Jackets won the first one in Washington 2-1, then got embarrassed 4-0 at home in the following meeting. What version of the Blue Jackets will we see tonight?