Wennberg returns after missing past three games
WASHINGTON — Alexander Wennberg returned to the scene of the crime Saturday.
Wennberg was back in the Blue Jackets lineup for the first time since being knocked out of Game 1 by a hit to his head from Capitals forward Tom Wilson.
The hit happened early in the third period and led to a powerplay goal for the Blue Jackets. It also cost his team one of its top centers for the next three games.
“It doesn’t matter what I think of the hit,” Wennberg said after playing 18 minutes off 25 shifts in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Capitals in Game 5 of the firstround playoff series. “It happened and I can say whatever I want. It’s in the past.”
The addition of Wennberg allowed coach John Tortorella more options on his forward lines. Captain Nick Foligno slid back to the third line with Wennberg reunited with Thomas Vanek and Boone Jenner — at least initially.
Wennberg also helped in the faceoff dot as the Blue Jackets won 57 percent of their draws — besting the Capitals after losing 64 percent in Game 4.
“He played great and was a real boost for us,” Foligno said. “That helped us put guys in spots where they need to be.”
Powered down
The Jackets again struggled on the power play, going scoreless on all five attempts, including one that bled into the third period. They have not scored a power-play goal in this series since Game 2 when Zach Werenski scored late in the second period to give the Jackets a 4-3 lead.
The Jackets began Alexander Wennberg was back in the lineup for the first time since being hit in the head during the third period of Game 1.
the series going 4 of 7 on the power play; they have failed to score in their past 13 attempts.
Washington, on the other hand, has at least one power-play goal in all five games. The Capitals scored on one of their four chances Saturday.
“Special teams were not great, we struggled on the power play,” Seth Jones said. “We’re just not executing. It’s
all execution.” More of ‘Puck Girl’
First-grader Keelan Moxley has become a local celebrity after the video of Washington forward Brett Connolly trying to get a puck to her during warmups before Game 2 here went viral on social media and elsewhere.
On Saturday, Moxley and two other Schedule
Game 1: Blue Jackets 4, Capitals 3, OT
Game 2: Blue Jackets 5, Capitals 4, OT
Game 3: Capitals 3, Blue Jackets 2, 2OT
Game 4: Capitals 4, Blue Jackets 1
Game 5: Capitals 4, Blue Jackets 3, OT
Game 6: 7:30 p.m. Monday, at Nationwide Arena Game 7*: TBA, Wednesday, at Washington *-if necessary youngsters helped kick off the game with highpitched chants of “Lets go Caps,” and she was given front-row tickets to the game.
Moxley and her parents were guests of Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, who presented her with an autographed stick from Connolly when he met with the family before the game.
“It’s a good story,” Connolly said. “I hope she had fun, hope her family had fun. Happy we could get her a win.”
Slap shots
Brandon Dubinsky had a busy first period. On one penalty kill, he lost his stick and spent half a shift chasing down the Capitals without one. He also blocked a shot from Alex Ovechkin. Dubinsky played just 7:28 but won 8 of 11 faceoffs. … Jones led the Blue Jackets with 31:51 of ice time Saturday, followed by Cam Atkinson (28:25) and Artemi Panarin (27:11). … The Jackets led in shots on goal for the first time, outshooting the Capitals 42-29. Matt Calvert, Atkinson and Jenner combined for 17 of them.