Capitals fall to Columbus in fourth preseason game

It was an odd Friday night at Capital One Arena. It was raining outside in DC yet we were all inside waiting for the Columbus Blue Jackets to get here in order to play hockey. The Washington Capitals would fall short to the jet lagged Blue Jackets by a final of 8-4.

Before the game the team held a moment of silence for Johnny Gaudreau. At 6:58 Alex Ovechkin would get things started with a feed from Andrew Mangiapane.

Adam Fantilli scored at 10:47 and James Malatesta scored at 13:49 to give the Blue Jackets the lead. Jakub Vrana would tie it at 14:01 as he looks to make the team out of training camp. Connor McMichael and John Carlson assisted there.

I heard them. It was really, really nice. I definitely feel that. I'm really happy they support me. It felt good.

In the second period Mathieu Oliver struck at 2:50 while Adam Fantilli scored at 5:25. Dylan Strome would connect on the power play at 10:01 with Andrew Cristall and Jakob Chychrun assisting.

The Blue Jackets would answer with a power play goal of their own from Mikael Pyyhtia at 14:49. In the third period Jakob Chychrun would make it a 5-4 game at 11:43 with assists from Ethan Bear and Sonny Milano.

Adam Fanttilli would score for the Blue Jackets at the 16 minute mark then it was Cole Sillinger with an empty netter at 18:21 and Mathieu Olivier at 19:37.

After the game Spencer Carbery gave praise on Andrew Cristall's strong training camp:

Credit to him as a young player that isn't allowed to play in the American Hockey League for continuing to push the envelope and make us consider keeping him in the National Hockey League. That's not an easy thing to do at his age and his experience level and, frankly for that matter, his stature.

The Caps and Blue Jackets meet again on Monday night but this time in Columbus at 7 p.m. on Monumental Sports Network.