標籤: Jackets

The Washington Capitals (43-30-9) finished the 2025-26 season on a high note. They got their fourth straight win by defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets (40-30-12) 2-1 on Tuesday.

More importantly, this could be the final NHL game for Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals captain received a final ovation from the crowd at Nationwide Arena.

It’s a full circle moment for Ovechkin, who made his debut against Columbus in October 2005. The 40-year-old recorded an assist in the Capitals’ win in the season series (4-0-0) against the Blue Jackets.

“We try to win,” Ovechkin said. “We’re trying to finish the season on a good note and I hope this isn’t my last game. I don’t know what’s going to happen. We’ll see.”

The first goal came early in the middle frame when Boone Jenner scored for Columbus. However, Anthony Beauvillier responded with the tying goal in the same period.

Then, in the third, Jacob Chykrun came up with the game-winner on the power play. Clay Stevenson was also strong in net, making 27 saves.

The season has already ended, with the Capitals sitting in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division with 95 points.

capitals analysis

All eyes were once again on Ovechkin as he suited up for the Capitals for possibly the last time. Although he is still undecided, the 40-year-old received plenty of cheers from the crowd in Columbus.

Many Capitals fans traveled as far as Ohio to see The Great 8 once again. As on Sunday, many in the stands chanted “one more year” and “Ovi”.

Ovechkin looked impressive on the ice as he recorded a secondary assist on Chirkrun’s goal. He led the team with four shots, 12 attempts and two hits during 18:24 ice time.

Winning Tuesday’s game was no longer necessary, so many players got a chance to shine. Stevenson started in net and looked strong, stopping 27 of 28 shots.

The Capitals finally responded, after Jenner scored 27 seconds into the middle frame. Trevor van Riemsdyk found Beauvillier on a breakaway as he beat Jett Greaves to make the score 1–1.

In the third, the Capitals played a key power play, as Ovechkin once again made his presence felt. He allowed Chirkrun to get a shot past Greaves for the go-ahead goal. The 28-year-old finished the season with 26 goals, the most among NHL defencemen.

With secondary assistance, Ovechkin finished his 21st season with 64 points (32 goals, 32 assists) in 82 games. This marked the first time since 2017–18 that The Great 8 appeared in all 82 games.

capitals report card

Team: B+

The Capitals went on to finish the season with four consecutive wins. If the team was not troubled by injuries and inconsistencies, they could have reached the playoffs.

Alex Ovechkin: A

Ovechkin made quite an impact in his swan song. He finished the 2025–26 season with 64 points (32 goals, 32 assists).

Clay Stevenson: A

Stevenson had a solid effort stopping 27 of 28 shots against Columbus. The 27-year-old got the start over Logan Thompson and the injured Charlie Lindgren.

Anthony Beauvillier: A

Beauvillier fueled the Capitals’ offense with the game-tying goal in the second period. He finished the season with a season-high 15 points.

Jacob Chykrun:A

Chicrun recorded the game-winner to help the team finish strong. He finished with 26 goals, the most among NHL blueliners this season.

Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for SportsNut. He also contributes to the sites… More about Harry Lichtman

Nothing comes easy, and this season, the Eastern Conference has proven that. With 102 points in the standings, the Carolina Hurricanes became the first team in the East to clinch a playoff berth this season with a thrilling 5–1 win over their Metropolitan Division rival, the Columbus Blue Jackets.

They wasted no time in securing their spot in the postseason, as Logan Stankoven found himself on the hat trick clock before 10 minutes had passed. His first goal, just 2:27 minutes in, was a tip-in on K’Andre Miller’s shot, while with his second goal, he completed a loose transition left by Taylor Hall.

Moments later on the penalty kill, Alexander Nikishin – with help from the usual suspects, Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho – got his first career NHL shorthanded goal. The scoreless score tied the Hurricanes with the Calgary Flames for most shorthanded goals this season with 11.

Down three-nil in the second frame, the Blue Jackets got on the board as Denton Matechuk put the puck through Frederik Andersen’s five-hole, but the Hurricanes reclaimed their breathing space just 13 seconds later thanks to a shot from the point by Jordan Martinook.

In the third period, the Blue Jackets power play was cut short. As the four-on-four hockey ended and the Hurricanes’ power play began, Shayne Gostisbier immediately contributed another goal by coming out of the penalty box, one-touching a pass from Aho and sending it to Andrei Svechnikov, who fired past Elvis Merzlikins from the right face-off circle – the final goal of the game.

‘The work will not stop now’

Throughout the match, the Hurricanes maintained the pace they boasted, and they allowed their offense to crush the Blue Jackets – dominating zone time and forcing Columbus to expend energy in their own zone. Carolina allowed only 10 shots on goal from the Blue Jackets, the fewest in franchise history for the Hurricanes.

“I think we had a huge start,” Stankoven said after the game. “We know a lot of these teams that are out here playing consistently are hungry for points and trying to get into the playoffs, so I think, mentally, we came prepared, and that’s been good for us.”

“I think our group is there, we don’t take the playoffs lightly – it’s very hard to fight and get to the playoffs. So, we’re really grateful, but the work doesn’t stop now.”

storm notes

Thursday’s game was the 1,400th game that Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal has played in his 20-season career. Of those, 968 have been played with Carolina, while 431 have been played with the Pittsburgh Penguins, with whom he won a Stanley Cup. During the first period, he received a standing ovation from fans in the stands.

Nikishin’s shorthanded goal was his 30th point of the season, tying him with Jamie McBain for most points by a rookie defenseman in Hurricanes history, and placing him second in the franchise tally, just five points behind Brad Shaw.

In each of the eight seasons that Rod Brind’Amour has served as head coach, the Hurricanes have made one playoff appearance. Only the Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs have longer active streaks (although the Leafs are out of the hunt at the moment).

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

A broken hockey stick caused by pure frustration in the visitors’ tunnel was an obvious indicator of the Carolina Hurricanes’ game on Tuesday night, but strong goaltending and a heavy helping of luck saved what was almost a game that hurt more than just flesh.

In the first half of the game, the Hurricanes were dominant against their Metropolitan Division rivals – the Columbus Blue Jackets. In the first period, the Hurricanes got two power play opportunities, and Shayne Gostisbehere and Logan Stankoven both used them, putting Carolina ahead two-to-zilch at the first intermission.

The game was good, the offense was flowing and the defense made life more difficult for the Blue Jackets. However, as the second frame progressed, what was working had holes in it. Puck management fell apart, their transition game suffered and they ultimately gave up an inch to the Blue Jackets.

Kirill Marchenko turned that inch into a mile.

Taking advantage of the Hurricanes’ sudden lack of focus, Marchenko pulled his team back into the fight with his first goal in eight games. The puck slipped under Brandon Bussey’s padding, and officials had to review it to make sure it even crossed the goal line before being put on the boards.

When the Hurricanes started to get the game going, it was Busey who stopped the bleeding by making repeated saves throughout the frame. At one point, he was alone against Sean Monahan as all the other players on the ice converged on the corner boards of the defensive zone – leaving Columbus alone in the slot with the puck. Thankfully for Carolina, their netminder was on top and finished off the chance.

‘Make or Break’ Third Period

The Hurricanes gave themselves another wound in the third period. Stankoven entered the zone with pressure from the Blue Jackets and dangerously dropped the puck to Jackson Blake, who ultimately missed. Adam Fantilli caught it, and after some tic-tac-toeing back into the Hurricanes zone, he hit a shot that tied the game.

Columbus had the momentum, and Carolina had the offense.

Still, Nikolaj Ehlers did the best job he could and got the Hurricanes the clutch goal they needed.

After a failed challenge for goal interference by the Blue Jackets, the Hurricanes initiated another power play, with Andrei Svechnikov taking the lead – after eating a puck earlier in the game, bruised mug and all.

…Honestly, this was not a night for faces. Miles Wood, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Andrei Svechnikov all took tackles in their individual careers, while three high-sticking penalties were assessed throughout the game.

Interestingly, Ehlers had an assist on Svechnikov’s goal, which was his 3rd point of the night and 40th assist of the season (a new career high), and his 64th point (tied his career high).

Eventually, the clock ran out and Columbus’ net was empty as the Blue Jackets took the power play in the final minute. But it was all for naught, as Jordan Martinook scored an empty-netter. It was the tenth short-handed goal for the Hurricanes this season, moving them into second place in the league-wide tally.

The final score came out to be 5-2 in favor of the Hurricanes, but if not for Bussey’s focus and incredible success on special teams, things could have ended very differently.

“Honestly it’s all mental… just telling myself ‘be ready for the next shot, you never know when you’ll have a moment’.”
Brandon Bussey joins @buckygross And @AJMleczko Discussing the game and post-game meal following the Hurricanes’ 5-2 win over the Blue Jackets… pic.twitter.com/1U1n3ZndNC

– Queen of the Puck (@rbarkleyhockey) April 1, 2026

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

Never trust a game with matching numbers from the Brainrot meme…

In the Carolina Hurricanes’ 67th game of the season, they suffered a blowout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, defeating them 5–1 in the first half of the Hurricanes’ back-to-back Metropolitan Division sets. Nicolas Deslauriers dropped the gloves with Mathieu Ollivier, Seth Jarvis was a blood-thirsty threat who couldn’t stay out of the box, Jakob Slavin ate a puck, and I’m still confused over the decision to allow a goal that was clear goaltender interference… just wait until you hear what the refs told Rod Brind’Amour about it.

The Hurricanes came out of the gate strong on Tuesday evening, but when Jarvis took a double minor to high-sticking Zach Werenski before five minutes were played, the momentum quickly shifted in the Blue Jackets’ direction. The wildest part, this wasn’t even the only double minor for a stick violation by Jarvis, as he did the same to Connor Garland later in the third period, albeit…a little worse. Garland went down the tunnel, leaving behind the red color of the snow.

He has already accumulated 13 penalty minutes since ending his ‘good guy streak’ in the last game.

By the time the second period started, the Blue Jackets were already ahead by two goals, and the Hurricanes were having nothing for them. And so, in classic Enforcer fashion, DesLauriers got down to business at the start of his storm as he dropped the gloves with the Blue Jacket’s famous bruiser. As usual, after the fight, he would definitely give Olivier a helmet tap – his signature show of respect.

He did his job well, giving Carolina enough spark to score Andrei Svechnikov and cut Columbus’ lead in half. However, the Hurricanes could only do so much in the scoring department.

Just refs talking refs stuff

With just over two and a half minutes remaining in the second frame, one of the most confusing events in recent sports occurred. Brandon Bussey was behind the net intent on clearing the puck when Danton Heinen came speeding up, and without thinking pushed his right skate into the back of the goaltender’s left skate, causing him to slip. Alexander Nikishin managed to block Charlie Coyle’s shot on the empty net, but Heinen came up and dumped the loose puck in, while Bussey attempted to jump in front and intercept it from next to the crease.

This was one of the clearest examples of goaltender interference – a penalty in the worst case, and a goal disallowed in the best case.

Rod Brind’Amour was unhappy when the call was not made and told the referee everything. Later, he spoke to FanDuel Sports Network’s rinkside reporter Hannah Yates about the incident, explaining that the referee had told him Bussey had dived.

Given Henen’s speed and movement and Bussey’s reaction, I’m honestly not sure how they came to this conclusion. Additionally, it is very easy for goalies to fall after making contact with the skate due to the boot being much shorter than a standard skater’s boot (which comes well above the ankle), thus providing significantly less support.

Alas, the goal stood and play continued.

In the third frame, Slavin was caught defending a two-on-one situation, going down to the ice to block a shot. Sadly, that obstacle was due to her face. Bleeding, he walked to the bench to get help and was able to stay in the game.

The Hurricanes travel to Lenovo Center on Wednesday night to face the Pittsburgh Penguins, who will have Evgeni Malkin back in the lineup.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay