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Washington Capitals vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Regular season · Thursday, December 31, 2026 · Nationwide Arena

Washington CapitalsWashingtonCapitalsAway

vs

Columbus Blue JacketsColumbusBlue JacketsHome

CBJNHL · CBJHN · MNMT

Game preview

The Washington Capitals visit the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Thursday, December 31, 2026, with puck drop at 2:00 PM ET. The game is on CBJNHL, CBJHN and MNMT.

This is the second of 4 meetings between the teams this season.

Rest and travel

Capitals

Game 2 of a road trip: NY Islanders, now Columbus.

  1. 212026-12-21: at TOR
  2. 222026-12-22: no game
  3. 232026-12-23: no game
  4. 242026-12-24: no game
  5. 252026-12-25: no game
  6. 262026-12-26: vs CBJ
  7. 272026-12-27: no game
  8. 282026-12-28: vs EDM
  9. 292026-12-29: no game
  10. 302026-12-30: at NYI
  11. 312026-12-31: at CBJ, second of a back-to-backB2B
rest since last game
0 days
rest since last game
since last game
~491 mi
since last game
on this road trip
~706 mi
on this road trip
body clock vs home
Home time
body clock vs home

Blue Jackets

Back home after a game in Montréal.

  1. 212026-12-21: at PHI
  2. 222026-12-22: vs MTL, second of a back-to-backB2B
  3. 232026-12-23: no game
  4. 242026-12-24: no game
  5. 252026-12-25: no game
  6. 262026-12-26: at WSH
  7. 272026-12-27: vs EDM, second of a back-to-backB2B
  8. 282026-12-28: no game
  9. 292026-12-29: at MTL
  10. 302026-12-30: no game
  11. 312026-12-31: vs WSH
rest since last game
1 day
rest since last game
since last game
~612 mi
since last game
on this road trip
~1,224 mi
on this road trip
body clock vs home
Home time
body clock vs home
Home game Road game This gameB2B = second night of a back-to-back. Distances are approximate.

Lines from last game

Washington CapitalsCapitalsTue, Oct 13 at CAR
  1. L1NewStrome#17Wilson#43Tuch#89
    9:26 together at 5v5
  2. L2NewSourdif#34Beauvillier#72Frank#53
    7:56 together at 5v5
  3. L3Ovechkin#8Protas#21Protas#62
    6:47 together at 5v5
  4. L4NewJenner#22Kyrou#25Leonard#9
    6:08 together at 5v5
  1. D1Chychrun#6Liljegren#27
    14:26 together at 5v5
  2. D2NewFehérváry#42Hutson#44
    10:37 together at 5v5
  3. D3NewHoll#4Desharnais#73
    7:24 together at 5v5

Power play

  1. 1Ovechkin LStrome CWilson RLeonard RChychrun D2:11
  2. 2Protas LTuch RKyrou RFrank RHutson D0:56

Penalty kill

  1. 1Jenner CWilson RDesharnais DFehérváry D1:40
  2. 2Protas LTuch RChychrun DLiljegren D1:00
Columbus Blue JacketsBlue JacketsTue, Oct 13 vs FLA
  1. L1Knies#89Johnson#91Fantilli#19
    8:53 together at 5v5
  2. L2NewMonahan#23Nichushkin#43Garland#83
    6:27 together at 5v5
  3. L3Coyle#3Sillinger#4Olivier#24
    4:53 together at 5v5
  4. L4NewHeinen#58Lomberg#94Voronkov#10
    4:27 together at 5v5
  1. D1Severson#78Werenski#8
    15:29 together at 5v5
  2. D2NewGudbranson#44Soucy#7
    9:43 together at 5v5
  3. D3NewChristiansen#2Mateychuk#5
    9:42 together at 5v5

Power play

  1. 1Knies LCoyle CJohnson CFantilli CWerenski D1:19
  2. 2Voronkov LMonahan CNichushkin RGarland RMateychuk D0:46

Penalty kill

  1. 1Coyle CSillinger CSeverson DWerenski D1:10
  2. 2Heinen LCoyle CChristiansen DMateychuk D0:59

Behind the bench

Each grey tick is one NHL team.

WSHCBJ

Settled lines

Share of 5v5 time from the regular top four lines · 2026–27

WSH 65% (13th most shuffled)CBJ 63% (10th most shuffled)
← Shuffles linesKeeps lines together →

Goalie pull, down one

Median time left in the 3rd when the goalie comes out, delayed penalties excluded · 2025–26

WSH 1:54 left (13th earliest · 13 pulls)CBJ 1:29 left (3rd latest · 19 pulls)
← Pulls latePulls early →

Average shift

All skaters, all strengths · 2025–26

WSH 49.8s (7th longest)CBJ 50.6s (5th longest)
← Short shiftsLong shifts →

Caught on long shifts

Share of 5v5 goals against with a skater 60s+ into his shift · 2025–26

WSH 37% (4th most often)CBJ 34% (6th most often)
← Rarely caughtOften caught →

Season series