Capitals Drop Decision to Jackets

Patrick Marleau scored a pair of goals, but it wasn't enough for the Washington Capitals as the Columbus Blue Jackets earned a 4-3 victory on Day 146. The loss dropped Washington to 32-31-11, but the team remains in sixth place in the Wales Conference.

Columbus got on the board first in the opening period on Davidson's goal from Schill and Lyashenko at 1:18. The Capitals tied the score just over nine minutes later when Marleau netted his first from Bryan Berard and Zigmund Palffy.

Washington took its first lead of the game early in the middle stanza on Marleau's 29th of the season from Mikael Renberg and Palffy. The Jackets made it 2-2 under four minutes later on Jackman's marker from Cooke at 5:43. The Capitals regained the lead on the power play as Palffy tallied from Berard at 6:58, but the home side once again evened the game. This time it was Halpern scoring his 20th of the season from Berglund and Hohener at 15:34. The goal came on the man advantage as Michal Rozsival was in the box for elbowing.

Columbus continued its strong play in the final period, and Berglund's 27th of the year from Roest and Halpern at 12:38 proved to be the game-winner. Washington had eight shots on goal in the final 20 minutes, but the club couldn't get the critical goal to force overtime.

Manny Legace made 23 saves in the loss and fell to 25-26-8. Arturs Irbe earned his first win for the Jackets by stopping 25 shots.

Both teams are off on Day 147 before completing the home-and-home series in Washington on Day 148.