WASHINGTON – The Washington Capitals showcased their offensive prowess with a commanding 7-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night. Connor McMichael netted two goals, while Alex Ovechkin made a significant impact, scoring his 859th career goal and providing two assists. The win solidified the Capitals’ strong season start, bringing their record to 8-2.

McMichael and Ovechkin have both scored in three consecutive games, contributing to the team’s momentum. Ovechkin is now just 36 goals shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record. With current projections indicating he could finish the season with 49 goals, Ovechkin is on track to reach a milestone of 895 goals later this season.

The Capitals exhibited a powerful offensive display in the first period, during which they recorded five goals with contributions from all four lines. The Blue Jackets managed to score through Damon Severson and Kevin Labanc, but they struggled defensively and faced defeat in both matches of their back-to-back schedule.

Goaltender Logan Thompson made 34 saves, maintaining his undefeated streak since joining the Capitals. On the flip side, Columbus goalie Daniil Tarasov faced 22 shots, successfully stopping 15 but ultimately yielding to the relentless Capitals offense.

In terms of takeaways, the Blue Jackets, though outshooting the Capitals, encountered significant difficulties in defense, leading to six goals allowed in the second game in a row. This series resulted in a staggering 12-4 scoring deficit for Columbus.

For the Capitals, the offensive flow has been a pleasant change from last season’s struggles. They have achieved five or more goals in five of their last seven games, showcasing their resurgence this season.

A pivotal moment in the game came just 56 seconds into the match when Aliaksei Protas opened the scoring with a goal on a 2-on-0 break alongside Dylan Strome, who also enjoyed a productive night with three points and his third goal in as many games.

Statistically, Ovechkin has tallied six goals in the first ten games of the 2024-25 season, a remarkable improvement from last year when it took him 30 games to reach the same total, which notably also included goals against the Blue Jackets.

Looking ahead, the Capitals are set to face off against the Hurricanes on Sunday, while the Blue Jackets will travel west to challenge the Sharks on Tuesday.