A game after Kirill Marchenko recorded a hat trick in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 9-4 win against the Buffalo Sabres, the Blue Jackets (11-17-5) host the Washington Capitals (16-9-4) on Thursday at 7:00 PM ET on BSOH, MNMT, and ESPN+.
Capitals vs. Blue Jackets Game Info
- Game Day: Thursday, December 21, 2023
- Game Time: 7:00 PM ET
- TV: Bally Sports (Regional restrictions may apply)
FREE NHL LIVE STREAM: Watch Capitals vs. Blue Jackets for free with a trial to Fubo!
Capitals and Blue Jackets Stats, Key Players, and Injuries
Capitals Insights
- The Capitals’ 70 total goals (2.4 per game) rank 31st in the NHL.
- The Capitals have given up 80 total goals (2.8 per game), the third-fewest in league play.
- Their goal differential (-10) ranks 23rd in the league.
- The nine power-play goals the Capitals have recorded this season (to rank 31st in the NHL) have come on 85 power-play chances.
- The Capitals have the league’s 30th-ranked power-play conversion rate (10.59%).
- The Capitals have scored two shorthanded goals this season.
- The Capitals kill 82.11% of opponent power plays, the 10th-best penalty-kill percentage in the league.
- The Capitals win 47.3% of their faceoffs to rank 27th in the NHL.
- The Capitals have an 8.7% shooting percentage as a team, which ranks 28th in the league.
- The Capitals have shut out opponents twice this season. As a team, they are averaging 16.5 hits and 17 blocked shots per game.
Capitals Key Players
- One of Washington’s top offensive options this season is Dylan Strome, who has recorded 19 points in 29 games.
- Having scored five goals and adding 13 assists, Alexander Ovechkin is an important piece of the offense for Washington through 29 games.
- Tom Wilson has created 18 points for Washington in 29 games this season, netting a goal on 11.9% of his shots and putting up 10 goals and eight assists.
- In the 12 games Charlie Lindgren has played this season, his save percentage is .925, the sixth-best in the league.
Capitals Injuries
Max Pacioretty: Achilles (Out),
Sonny Milano: Upper Body (Out),
Nicklas Backstrom: Hip (Out),
T.J. Oshie: Lower Body (Out)
Blue Jackets Insights
- With 105 goals (3.2 per game), the Blue Jackets have the league’s sixth-best offense.
- The Blue Jackets have conceded 120 total goals this season (3.6 per game), 31st in the NHL.
- Their -15 goal differential is 25th in the league.
- The Blue Jackets have 15 power-play goals (on 93 chances), 25th in the NHL.
- The Blue Jackets’ power-play percentage (16.13) puts them 25th in the league.
- The Blue Jackets’ have the seventh-best penalty kill percentage (83.7).
- The Blue Jackets are 25th in faceoff win rate in the NHL (47.8%).
- The 10.7% shooting percentage of the Blue Jackets is 11th in the league.
- The Blue Jackets have not held their opponents scoreless yet this season.
Blue Jackets Key Players
- Zachary Werenski’s one goal and 24 assists in 31 games for Columbus add up to 25 total points on the season.
- Marchenko is one of the impact players on offense for Columbus with 21 total points (0.6 per game), with 13 goals and eight assists in 31 games.
- Columbus’ Johnny Gaudreau is among the leaders on the team with 20 total points (six goals and 14 assists).
- Spencer Martin is 2-7-1 on the season, giving up 36 goals (3.6 goals against average) and amassing 295 saves with an .891 save percentage (55th in the league).
Blue Jackets Injuries
Damon Severson: Oblique (Out),
Patrik Laine: Clavicle Fracture (Out),
Boone Jenner: Jaw (Out),
Jack Roslovic: Ankle (Out),
Adam Boqvist: Shoulder (Out)