Junior Capitals Burned by Blue Jackets

The Washington Junior Capitals continued to struggle with consistency and lost 5-4 to the Columbus Junior Blue Jackets on Day 87. The loss drops Washington back under .500 at 20-21-3 for the season.

Columbus came out of the gates quickly in the first period, scoring three goals in the first 8:55. Kolarik started things off with a power play tally from Sannit and Shkotov at 5:34, before Irgl made it 2-0 from Hanchuk and Tomica at 8:31. Twenty-four seconds later the Blue Jackets extended the lead when Hanchuk scored from Callahan and Irgl. Needing a chance in momentum, the Capitals turned to Igor Shadulov to drop the gloves and he fought Suter to a draw. The fisticuffs seemed to provide some help as Zbynek Novak pulled a goal back for the Caps on the power play from Jakub Cutta and Patrick O'Sullivan at 14:50. Unfortunately Columbus netted one more goal in the opening period to make it 4-1 at the intermission. Kurka was the scorer from Shkotov and Aikens at 18:48.

The Capitals finally started to turn the game in the second half of the second period. Henrik Tallinder got things going on the power play when he scored from Sean Bergenheim and Ryan MacMurchy at 12:49. Bergenheim then scored a goal of his own just 13 seconds after Columbus returned to even strength to make it 4-3. O'Sullivan and MacMurchy assisted on the goal.

Washington tried to keep the momentum going in the final period, but a power play tally by Shkotov took the wind out of the sails. Aikens and Kurka assisted on the goal that gave Columbus a 5-3 lead at 5:07. Greg Mauldin scored for Washington from O'Sullivan and Mikhail Kuleshov at 14:58, but the Caps couldn't add the tying goal in the last 5:02 to force overtime.

Daniel Taylor struggled in goal for Washington, stopping just 18 shots to take the loss. Brad Topping made eight saves in relief. Yan Danis stopped 18 shots to earn the win for the BJs.

The Junior Capitals return to action on Day 89 against St. Louis.