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A two-goal first period for the Washington Capitals created a lead that the Columbus Blue Jackets could not rally from Tuesday night at Nationwide Arena, as the home team fell 4-3 in their penultimate preseason contest.
Boone Jenner scored a power play goal at 7:52 in the second period to bring the Blue Jackets to within one before Washington would extend their lead just over two minutes later.
Jenner struck again on the power play less than a minute later to again bring Columbus to within one, this time at 3-2, but the Caps regained a two-goal lead less than three minutes later on Tom Wilson's first exhibition goal of the season.
Mathieu Olivier would bring the Blue Jackets to within one for a third time at 12:23 of the third period, but the rally fell short with Columbus unable to tie the game late.
Here are the three things from the final home game of the Blue Jackets' preseason:
THING 1: A Sloppy Opening Frame
Before the game, head coach Dean Evason had said he wanted to see the team really ramp it up for the end of the preseason. "Take care of the puck, protect the puck, not turn pucks over, not lose our checks, stuff like that," said Evason.
What he saw was a team that did not take care of the puck, did not protect the puck, turned pucks over, lost their checks, stuff like that.
The Blue Jackets were down 2-0 after the first period, and it could've been worse.
They generally improved as the game went on so this shouldn't sound too many bells and whistles, but it was certainly not the first 20 minutes that Evason or the club was hoping for.
THING 1: Jenner In Regular-Season Form
The team might've played sloppy, but the captain did not. Jenner scored his first two goals of the exhibition season in the loss, both on the power play. The first came at the 7:52 mark of the second period on assists from Kent Johnson and Zach Werenski.
Cap leadin' the way with our first goal of the night
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 1, 2025
CBJ x @FanaticsBook pic.twitter.com/BgzMsJUZpS
Less than three minutes later, Jenner picked up another PP strike. Werenski had the primary assist on this one, with the secondary coming from Adam Fantilli.
CAP STRIKES TWICE!
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 1, 2025
CBJ x @FanaticsBook pic.twitter.com/qpVbZOIC7J
It was around this time last season that Jenner went down with an injury that sidelined him until February. What a loss that was, as the Columbus captain had 19 points over the final 26 games of the season and helped lead a charge that nearly put the Blue Jackets in the postseason.
Having Jenner available from the get-go this season will undoubtedly help the team, but if his two power play goals in Tuesday's loss was any indication of what may be to come, the Blue Jackets power play might be onto something.
THING 3: A Full Game Of Jet
Like his counterpart Elvis Merzlikins did in the last game, Jet Greaves played the entire game Tuesday night. He was just okay, stopping 19 of 23 shots from Washington. At least one goal can't be put on him, as the Capitals' fourth and final goal came after a sloppy turnover by defenseman Dante Fabbro right in front of Greaves.
Neither goalie has played well enough to say they've definitively earned the opening night start, and neither goalie has played poor enough to force Evason's hand the other way. Until one does one or the other, this team has goalie tandem written all over it.
Up Next:
The Blue Jackets preseason finale is Saturday when they face these same Capitals, this time from the Capital One Arena in the Nation's Capital. Puck-drop will be 7:00 p.m.
