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Sports

Caps seek to salvage finale of homestand vs. Jackets

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Washington Capitals conclude on Saturday night what has been a tough five-game homestand as they take on a new division rival in the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Capitals are 1-3-0 on their residency and followed up Monday's 4-2 win over Edmonton with a 2-0 setback to the New York Rangers two nights later. It was Washington's fifth loss in seven games to begin the campaign.

Braden Holtby made 34 saves in the loss, while Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist needed to stop just 22 pucks to record the shutout.

Washington's lethal power play went 0-for-4 in the game, failing to convert on 55 seconds of a two-man advantage in the first period.

"The preparation in the locker room has to get better. It's as simple as that," said Holtby, whose Capitals begin a five-game road trip in Winnipeg on Tuesday.

The Blue Jackets will be looking to snap a three-game slide in tonight's meeting and are coming off Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

Columbus fell behind by a 3-0 margin before getting a pair of goals from Boone Jenner -- the first two of his career -- and one by Ryan Johansen to even things up before Montreal went ahead for good with 1:07 to play.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves as the Blue Jackets failed to make Jenner's memorable night a victories one.

"The first goal is one that I will remember. I know scoring in a building like this, because I watched the Habs quite a bit on television, so it is pretty cool. It will be with me for quite a while," the 20-year-old Jenner said.

Jenner saw an increased role on Thursday with Marian Gaborik out due to flu- like symptoms. Gaborik is questionable to return to action tonight as the Blue Jackets wrap a three-game road trip.

Columbus has lost three straight against Washington, which is 9-3-1 with a tie in the 14 all-time meetings.

Bobrovsky is 1-0-1 with a 3.36 goals against average and .890 save percentage in three career meetings with the Capitals. Holtby has never faced the Blue Jackets, who shifted from the West to the Eastern Conference in this season's realignment and joined the Caps in the new Metropolitan Division.