The Blue Jackets are heading back from a four-game road trip decimated by injuries and smarting after a second blowout loss to the Washington Capitals this season.
Losing three lineup stalwarts Nov. 24 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., including leading scorer Kirill Marchenko at the morning skate, the Blue Jackets fell flat against the Capitals by a 5-1 score for the second time in a month.
The Capitals (12-9-2) also routed the Jackets 5-1 on Oct. 24 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus in a game that was tightly contested until the third period. This one got away from the Blue Jackets (11-9-3) late in the second, when they allowed three goals in the final 3:31 of the period to trail 4-0 starting the third.
Mathieu Olivier left the Jackets’ lineup late in the first with an upper-body injury and didn’t return, and star defenseman Zach Werenski joined him in the training room after the second period with an upper-body injury that ended his night.
The Blue Jackets are already playing without captain Boone Jenner (upper body) and defenseman Erik Gudbranson (hip), who are each on injured reserve.
Jakob Chychrun led the way for the Capitals with two goals, while John Carlson and Tom Wilson added a goal and assist each. Defenseman Martin Fehervary also scored a goal, and Justin Sourdif added two assists for Washington, which had 10 players finish with at least one point.
Denton Mateychuk scored the lone goal for the Blue Jackets, who started goalie Elvis Merzlikins (26 saves) for the second time in the past nine games. Capitals goalie Logan Thompson (22 saves) notched his second win of the season over Columbus.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets fall apart against Washington Capitals again
Reporting by Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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