National Hockey League
Washington 4, Columbus 3
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
Referees: Pierre Lambert, Garrett Rank
Linesmen: Ryan Galloway, Justin Johnson
Attendance: 17879

Evgeny Kuznetsov scored 26 seconds into overtime, and the visiting Washington Capitals defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 on Tuesday night in the final game before the All-Star break for both teams.

Kuznetsov took a drop pass from Marcus Johansson and beat Joonas Korpisalo with a wrist shot from the top of the right faceoff circle as Washington won after surrendering a 3-2 third-period lead.

Defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, who played his 500th NHL game earlier this season, had his first career two-goal game for the Capitals. Erik Gustafsson had two assists, and Charlie Lindgren made 31 saves for Washington, which had lost three of its past four games.

Johnny Gaudreau scored his 14th goal of the season for the Blue Jackets, who have lost four of their past five. Korpisalo made 30 saves.

Gaudreau tied it 3-3 at 12:44 of the third period when he took a stretch pass from Gavin Bayreuther, entered the zone on a two-on-one, kept the puck and beat Lindgren.

Garnet Hathaway gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 5:06 of the first period when he deflected Lars Eller's shot from the top of the right faceoff circle past Korpisalo.

Washington's lead was 2-0 after van Riemsdyk's slap shot from the point through traffic off a pass from Nicolas Aube-Kubel found the net at 14:28.

Columbus responded just 12 seconds later, as Andrew Peeke's shot from the point deflected off van Riemsdyk and past Lindgren.

Kuznetsov set up Washington's third goal when he circled the offensive zone, went behind the net and passed behind his back in front to van Riemsdyk, who knocked it in at 8:26 of the second period. It was Kuznetsov's 36th assist of the season.

Eric Robinson pulled the Blue Jackets within 3-2 when he converted a pass from Mathieu Olivier on a two-on-one break.

Lindgren stopped Patrik Laine on a one-timer from the slot midway through the third period to maintain the 3-2 lead, and Korpisalo answered moments later with a sliding save on Martin Fehervary.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Washington   Columbus
Trevor van Riemsdyk 2 Points Johnny Gaudreau 1
Trevor van Riemsdyk 2 Goals Johnny Gaudreau 1
Erik Gustafsson 2 Assists Gavin Bayreuther 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Charlie Lindgren .912 Save Percentage Joonas Korpisalo .882
Charlie Lindgren 31 Saves Joonas Korpisalo 30
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Washington 34 4 0-1 1-1 8 33
Columbus 34 3 0-1 1-1 8 28
Upcoming Games
  • Columbus will play their next game at home against Toronto. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .200 after a win and .333 after a loss.
  • Washington will play their next game on the road against Boston. The Capitals have a W/L % of .407 after a win and .615 after a loss.