Columbus Blue Jackets vs Washington Capitals Picks and Predictions December 12th 2024

Capitals Aim to Extend Historic Road Streak Against Struggling Blue Jackets

The Washington Capitals are riding high as they look to push their franchise-record road winning streak to 10 games when they face the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night. While the Capitals are at the top of their game, the Blue Jackets are struggling to find their footing.

Blue Jackets Seek Defensive Stability

Columbus has dropped four of its last five games, including a 5-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. Despite goals from Kent Johnson, Zach Werenski, and Sean Monahan, the Blue Jackets fell behind early, trailing 3-0 and later 5-1.

“We just fed into their forecheck,” Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. “When you don’t feel comfortable going forward, you turn back, and all you do is invite pressure. Tonight, we played south and played soft instead of going north and playing hard.”

One of Columbus’ biggest challenges has been their penalty kill. The Blue Jackets have allowed a power-play goal in 14 consecutive games, a troubling trend as they prepare to face a Capitals team whose power play has been surging.

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Monahan continues to be a bright spot for Columbus, tallying 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in his last 13 games. However, the team’s defensive lapses remain a significant hurdle.

“We’ve got to throw (Tuesday’s game) out,” Evason said. “We’ll get a good burn (Wednesday) and get our legs going again.”

Capitals’ Resilience and Road Dominance

Washington enters the matchup atop the Metropolitan Division with an impressive 11-2-0 road record. Even without injured superstar Alex Ovechkin, the Capitals have maintained a strong offensive presence and a league-best plus-35 goal differential.

Ovechkin, who has missed the past nine games, is making progress in his recovery. He has been skating on his own and even took passes from former linemate Nicklas Backstrom on Wednesday. While a return is still weeks away, team owner Ted Leonsis emphasized the importance of patience.

“I don’t want him to rush it,” Leonsis told NHL.com.

Forward Tom Wilson, who took a puck to the face on Saturday, is expected to play despite a small fracture in his sinus cavity. Wilson, who scored two third-period goals in the Capitals’ 4-2 comeback win against Montreal, continues to embody the team’s resilience.

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“It’s a really fun group,” Wilson said. “We enjoy coming together and bearing down and finding ways to gut out these tough wins. It’s a great group in here.”

Washington is 6-0-1 in its past seven games and has shown a knack for late-game heroics, with three third-period comeback wins this season.

Head-to-Head History

The Capitals dominated the Blue Jackets in their previous meeting on Nov. 2, securing a 7-2 victory in Washington. Connor McMichael scored twice, and Ovechkin contributed a goal and two assists in that game.

Thursday’s matchup presents a significant challenge for Columbus, as they’ll need to tighten their defense to contain Washington’s high-powered offense.

What to Watch For

• Capitals’ Power Play vs. Blue Jackets’ Penalty Kill: Washington’s surging power play could exploit Columbus’ ongoing struggles on the penalty kill, a key area to watch.
• Wilson’s Grit: Despite his injury, Wilson’s physicality and scoring touch will be crucial for Washington’s success.
• Columbus’ Energy Levels: The Blue Jackets need a sharper, more disciplined effort to counteract Washington’s momentum.

The Capitals aim to extend their historic road streak and solidify their spot atop the division, while the Blue Jackets hope to halt their slide and regain some defensive stability. With these contrasting trajectories, fans can expect an intense battle in Columbus.