Washington vs Columbus Prediction
📣 This evening, the Capitals and the Blue Jackets face off in their second preseason head-to-head. Will Alexander Ovechkin lead his team to a more decisive victory over the Ohio squad this time? Let's dive into the details.
Head-to-Head
Recently, the "Blue Jackets" and the "Capitals" clashed in Ohio, combining for a total of seven goals. Forwards Connor McMichael and Tom Wilson each tallied two points. Wilson also racked up 17 penalty minutes after getting into a fight with Erik Gudbranson late in the second period. Columbus's longtime leader, Boone Jenner, capitalized on two power plays, but his efforts weren't enough to secure a victory over the Capitals on Tuesday. It's worth noting that in last season's regular matchups, the teams exchanged two wins each, often showcasing high-scoring hockey.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Washington Capitals Team Overview
Last season, the Capitals managed to get past the first round of the playoffs by overcoming Montreal's young squad, but they couldn't handle Carolina in the following stage, losing the series 1-4. The offseason didn't bring any major signings for the Capitals, with only notable departures. Lars Eller, Andrew Mangiapane, Taylor Raddysh, and Alexander Alexeyev left the team. During the preseason, they played five games and suffered only one loss to Boston. The defeat to the Bruins was unexpected, as the Massachusetts team fielded a semi-regular lineup without Pastrnak and Lindholm. Recently, Washington decided to part ways with Sheldon Rempal and sent Kristall and the younger Protas to the AHL. In the upcoming game against the Sabres, we might not see Milano and Beauvillier in action, but the rest of the key players are ready to hit the ice.
Match Results: Washington Capitals
Columbus Blue Jackets Team Overview
The "Blue Jackets" had a chance to reach the playoffs last season for the first time in a while, but they were edged out by Montreal, delaying their postseason appearance for at least another year. Over the summer, the Jackets bolstered their roster with Charlie Coyle, Miles Wood, and Hudson Fasching, who are set to strengthen the team's lower lines. In preseason action, the Ohio team played six games, securing only two victories against St. Louis and Pittsburgh. Predictably, the roster was trimmed ahead of the season opener. Players like Del Bel Belluz, Pyyhtia, and Kuhlman were sent to the AHL. Defensemen Jaros and Hunt were also deemed surplus to requirements. Sean Monahan and Zach Werenski will not travel for the game against the "Capitals," but the rest of the squad is ready to face Ovechkin's crew.
Match Results: Columbus Blue Jackets
🏒 Projected Lineups
Washington: Thompson - Fehervary, Carlson - A. Protas, D. Strome, Ovechkin
Columbus: Merzlikins - Christiansen, Fabbro - Chinakhov, Voronkov, Marchenko
🥅 Goaltenders
For the upcoming game, we'll be keeping an eye on the goaltending duo of Thompson-Lindgren. Last season, Logan Thompson appeared in 43 regular-season games for the Capitals, posting a goals-against average of 2.49. His counterpart, Lindgren, played slightly fewer games with a goals-against average of 2.73.
We expect Elvis Merzlikins to be the last line of defense for Columbus in this match. To recap, Merzlikins played 53 games for the Blue Jackets last season, allowing an average of 3.18 goals per game. During the preseason, he completed just one full match (against Pittsburgh), conceding 3 goals.
Editor's Prediction
Considering the absence of Monahan and Werenski in the lineup for the "Jackets" in their final preseason game, we suggest betting on a Washington win in regulation time. While the "Capitals" are likely to be without Chychrun and Beauvillier, the lack of a top-line center and a first-unit power play defenseman for the "Jackets" seems more significant. It's worth noting that the "Capitals" have lost only one game in this preseason, highlighting their reliability and commitment as a team.
Betting Tips: Washington Capitals - Columbus Blue Jackets
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