The Columbus Blue Jackets (13-9-6) host the Washington Capitals (17-9-3) in a Metropolitan Division showdown at Nationwide Arena, where the Jackets seek to build on a hard-fought 3-2 overtime win over Carolina on Friday, extending their points streak to four (2-0-2). Columbus, fifth in the Metro with a +5 goal differential, has found rhythm through balanced scoring (3.12 GF/G, 14th) but ranks 24th in GA/G (3.28), vulnerable to Washington’s lethal top end. The Caps, second in the division, enter on a three-game win streak, capped by a 4-1 rout of St. Louis on Saturday, powered by Alex Ovechkin’s chase for Gretzky (he’s at 864 goals, +5 from last week). This tilt tests Columbus’s young core against Washington’s veteran snarl, with the Jackets’ home-ice edge (7-4-3) clashing against the Caps’ road prowess (8-5-1) in a series where Washington has won seven straight.
Game Details
Puckdrop: 1:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio (capacity: 18,144)
Broadcast: NHL Network, BSOH (Blue Jackets), Monumental Sports (Capitals), SN, TVAS
This early afternoon affair opens the Sunday slate, with Columbus wrapping a three-game homestand (strong 7-4-3 at home) and Washington concluding a four-game road trip (6-3-1 away). The Columbus crowd has fueled 3.4 GF/G in home wins, promising energy for this divisional grudge match.
Injury Report
Columbus’s goaltending depth is tested without Merzlikins, while Washington’s forward group dodges bullets but blue-line tweaks loom. The Jackets have missed 95 man-games, impacting transitions.
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury | Estimated Return | Notes |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Elvis Merzlikins | G | Injured Reserve | Ankle | December 14 | Backup; Daniil Tarasov (8-6-4, 3.02 GAA) starts back-to-back after Friday’s 28 saves. |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Sean Kuraly | C | Day-to-Day | Lower Body | December 7 | Penalty-kill anchor; full practice Saturday—likely returns to fourth line. |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Jake Christiansen | D | Injured Reserve | Wrist | January 5, 2026 | Depth defender; 1G-2A in 12GP. |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Trey Fix-Wolansky | RW | Injured Reserve | Concussion | December 21 | Speedy winger; 3G-4A before injury. |
| Washington Capitals | Pierre-Luc Dubois | C | Day-to-Day (Probable) | Upper Body | December 7 | 7G-10A; skated Friday—expected to center second line. |
| Washington Capitals | Tom Wilson | RW | Out | Knee | December 16 | Enforcer (5G-6A, 78 PIM); missed 8 games, physical void. |
| Washington Capitals | T.J. Oshie | RW | Injured Reserve | Back | February 2026 | Veteran leader; 4G-8A in 18GP before flare-up. |
| Washington Capitals | Vincent Iorio | D | Injured Reserve | Shoulder | March 2026 | Prospect; no games this season. |
Impact: Merzlikins out forces Tarasov into spotlight vs. Washington’s shot volume (31.8 SOG/G, 5th); Wilson’s absence softens Caps’ forecheck, aiding Columbus counters.
Key Player Matchups
Washington’s experience meets Columbus’s speed—power plays could decide (CBJ 21.5%, WSH 24.2%). Injuries spotlight top-line clashes.
Johnny Gaudreau (CBJ, LW) vs. John Carlson (WSH, D): Gaudreau (9G-19A-28P) weaves magic on the rush (team-high 14A at home); Carlson (6G-15A-21P, 25:12 TOI) shutdowns with poise (+7). Gaudreau’s creativity tests gaps. Edge: Carlson—positioning.
Alex Ovechkin (WSH, LW) vs. Ivan Provorov (CBJ, D): Ovechkin (20G-8A-28P, chasing history) snipes from anywhere (14.8% shooting); Provorov (+2) logs 23:45 TOI but faces Ovi’s volume (112 SOG). Edge: Ovechkin—goal machine.
Boone Jenner (CBJ, C) vs. Dylan Strome (WSH, C): Jenner (11G-10A) grinds faceoffs (51%); Strome (8G-16A) dazzles playmaking (team-high 16A). Jenner’s physicality vs. Strome’s vision. Edge: Strome—offensive edge.
Goalie Duel: Daniil Tarasov (CBJ) vs. Charlie Lindgren (WSH): Tarasov (8-6-4, 3.02 GAA, .904 SV%) solid in wins (2.45 GAA); Lindgren (9-4-2, 2.68 GAA, .910 SV%) hot on road (6-2-1). Edge: Lindgren—consistency.
Projected Lines (Subject to change):
Blue Jackets: Monahan-Gaudreau-Sillinger | Marchenko-Jenner-Werenski | Bemstrom-Kuraly (if active)-Voronkov | Nesterenko-Chinakhov-Gregory | Peeke-Provorov | Gudbranson-Sidorov
Capitals: Ovechkin-McMichael-Mangiapane | Dubois-Strome-O’Brien | Malenstyn-Dowd-Makarov | Irwin-Lapierre | Carlson-Aibinder | Orlov-Fehervary
Team Records and Standings
| Team | Record | Points | Goal Diff. | Home/Away | Division Rank |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 13-9-6 | 32 | +5 | 7-4-3 Home / 6-5-3 Away | 5th Metro |
| Washington Capitals | 17-9-3 | 37 | +18 | 9-4-2 Home / 8-5-1 Away | 2nd Metro |
Jackets 14th GF/G (3.12), 24th GA/G (3.28), 18th PK (79.1%); Caps 9th GF/G (3.36), 11th GA/G (2.82), 5th PP (24.2%).
Recent Team Forms
Columbus’s OT heroics mask shot deficits (27.4 SOG/G, 18th), while Washington’s streak thrives on special teams (8 PPG L6).
Blue Jackets Last 5 Games (2-1-2):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec. 5 | vs. CAR | W 3-2 (OT) | Werenski GWG; Tarasov 28 saves, 1/3 PP. |
| Dec. 3 | @ PIT | L 2-3 (SO) | Shootout loss; 32 SOG outshot. |
| Dec. 1 | vs. NJD | T 3-3 (OT) | Tied after rally; PK 3/3. |
| Nov. 29 | @ NYR | W 4-2 | Gaudreau 2A; offensive surge. |
| Nov. 28 | vs. PHI | L 1-4 | Defensive lapses; 0/4 PP. |
Capitals Last 5 Games (4-1-0):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec. 6 | @ STL | W 4-1 | Ovechkin 2G; Lindgren 22 saves. |
| Dec. 4 | @ DET | W 5-3 | Strome 3A; 2/4 PP clinic. |
| Dec. 2 | @ CBJ | W 3-2 | Road win; low-event grinder. |
| Nov. 30 | vs. BOS | W 2-1 | Timely goals; PK shuts down. |
| Nov. 28 | vs. TOR | L 3-4 (SO) | SO loss; 35 SOG. |
Jackets 5-3-2 L10 (3.0 GF/G); Caps 7-2-1 L10 (3.4 GF/G).
Series History
These Metro rivals have met 142 times (regular + playoffs), with Washington dominating at 85-46-11 overall (63.4% win rate), including 78-41-11 in regular season (64.2%). The Caps lead at home 42-20-5 but struggle in Columbus (36-26-6 SU). Recent dominance: Washington 7-0 SU in last 7, outscoring CBJ 28-14, including 3-2 on Dec. 2, 2025. Playoff history: Caps 4-2 series win in 2018 ECF. Average: 5.9 goals/game.
Betting Trends
Puck Line: Blue Jackets +1.5 (-190); Capitals -1.5 (+160) – WSH covers 52% as road faves.
Total (O/U): 6 (Over -110; Under -110) – Over 6-2 in last 8 H2H; Caps 5-2 Over L7 road.
Trends: Caps 7-0 SU L7 H2H; Jackets 3-7 SU L10 vs. Caps. CBJ 4-1 Under L5 home. Sharp on Caps ML (projected 6.1 goals).
Game Odds
Columbus Blue Jackets 6.5
Washington Capitals – 205
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, December 6, 2025
