COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Blue Jackets had a golden opportunity slip right through their fingers Friday night at Nationwide Arena.
After scrambling for a pair of goals 22 seconds apart in the second period, pulling them even with the Washington Capitals, the Jackets left with nothing to show for their resilience in a biting 4-3 loss decided on Conor Sheary’s goal late in the third.
“It stings a bit, there’s no question,” coach Brad Larsen said. “We played hard and it was a good hockey game. After five days (not playing), you’re not sure how sharp you’re going to be. You could tell we had some puck management issues at times, but we battled right back in it. Thought we played well tonight and could’ve gotten a point out of that at least.”
Sheary and Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov are the biggest reasons it didn’t happen. Spotting Sheary open at the bottom of the right faceoff circle, Orlov sent a crisp diagonal shot-pass over for the winner. Sheary’s shot just beat Blue Jackets goalie Joonas Korpisalo by inches, sailing into the net between his arm and the right post.
The sound of the puck clanging off the metal and dropping into the net behind Korpisalo was audible from all the way up in the press box. It was a deflating way to end a game that otherwise provided a ton of entertainment in the previous 58-plus minutes.
Capitals star Alex Ovechkin scored the game’s first goal, moving him past Brett Hull into sole possession of fourth place among all-time NHL goal-scorers at 742. Garnet Hathaway also scored a pair for Washington in the second, giving the Capitals a 3-1 lead that didn't hold up thanks to the Jackets' response.
Sean Kuraly and Gustav Nyquist scored 22 seconds apart to tie it 3-3 and bring a crowd of 16,985 to life. Kuraly, who’s from Dublin and returned to Columbus as a free agent, had already tied it 1-1 in the first on his first goal as a Blue Jacket.
After scoring, he skated over and gave the glass a two-fisted pound before receiving high-fives and hugs. Kuraly's impressive night just wasn’t enough to get the Blue Jackets (7-4-0) a victory or point in overtime.
“I think my reaction says it all,” he said. “It was a fun one. Big one. It’s tough to see right now, after it ended that way, but good to get the first.”
Korpisalo faced 28 shots and made a few tough saves before allowing Sheary’s goal. Samsonov made 26 stops for the Capitals (8-2-4), including two on a Blue Jackets power play three-plus minutes before Washington broke the deadlock.
