After two Columbus power-play goals in the third period forced overtime, Artemi Panarin scored the overtime game-winner for the Blue Jackets as the Washington Capitals dropped Game 1 of their first-round playoff series, 4-3.
Evgeny Kuznetsov scored a pair of power play goals, Philipp Grubauer made 24 saves and John Carlson provided secondary assists on all three goals for Washington.
Panarin’s goal came 6:02 into the extra period after the Capitals started overtime with some good chances.
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Columbus forward Josh Anderson boarded Michal Kempny from behind late in the first period and was handed a game misconduct, awarding the Capitals five minutes of 5-on-4. Kempny was injured and did not return to the game.
Kuznetsov’s first goal came about 30 seconds later. He received a pass from Backstrom up the ice, glided toward the left circle and wristed the shot past Bobrovsky.
Kuznetsov only let another 30 seconds pass before strike No. 2. He pulled a quick deke to create space from defenseman David Savard and placed his shot over Bobrovsky’s left shoulder, off the far post and in.
The Blue Jackets cut into the lead 4:48 into the second when the puck took a funny hop off a loose Columbus stick near center ice. Boone Jenner corralled it, avoided Matt Niskanen’s loose defense and found Alexander Wennberg at the crease for a bang-bang goal.
A Tom Wilson charging penalty early in the third gave the Jackets a power play, and in 13 seconds Thomas Vanek capitalized by scooping an assist from Pierre-Luc Dubois.
But Smith-Pelly put Washington back on top about four minutes later.
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