Washington Capitals Claim Victory Over Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 To End 2025-2026 Season On a Positive Note
A day after being officially eliminated from the NHL Playoffs, the Washington Capitals and the Columbus Blue Jackets faced off to end their 2025-2026 season. The Capitals came out on top, 2-1. Both teams will have to rebound and try to make the playoffs next season.
Ovechkin’s Last Game?
Longtime Capitals Forward Alex Ovechkin has had retirement rumors swirling around him the whole season. The 40-year-old Russian joined the Capitals back in the 2005-2006 season, and in his prime was one of the top players in the NHL. He is the NHL record holder in regular season goals with 929, and scored his 1,000th combined career goal back on March 23.
Ovechkin won the prestigious Hart Trophy three times and the Richard Trophy for the NHL’s top goal-scorer 8 times. He was part of the Capitals team that won the Stanley Cup in 2018. He scored 32 goals in the 2025-2026 season to lead the Capitals.
Ovechkin has said that he will speak with his family and decide if he will return in the 2026-2027 season. Against the Blue Jackets on April 14, cheers of “one more year” rained down on him, even off of home ice.
Capitals vs. Blue Jackets Recap
In a game that meant a possible playoff spot before the Flyers beat the Carolina Hurricanes on April 13, the Capitals and the Blue Jackets played a rather messy game. The Blue Jackets got the first point on the board when Boone Jenner scored in the first period. For the Capitals, Anthony Beauviller scored to tie the game, and Jakob Chychrun scored the game-winner. Ovechkin got the secondary assist on Chychrun’s goal.
Capitals Goalie Clay Stevenson, given a start in a rare occurrence, made 27 saves. Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves made 19 saves. Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves made 17 saves, and Columbus was better in terms of shots, 28-21.
Coach and Player Reactions
The Capitals were overall happy with their last game of the season. Chychrun said that the team was pleased enough with the effort. “It’s hard not being able to play for that playoff spot, but I thought we did a good job of just sticking with it and putting our best foot forward and just being pros and going out and trying to get the job done.”
Ovechkin spoke to the press after the game. “We try to win. We try to finish the season on a good note. I hope it’s not my last game. I don’t know how it’s going to happen. We’ll see.”
Meanwhile, Blue Jackets Head Coach Rick Bowness was upset with how his team played. He took the post from Dean Evason on Jan. 12. “I just looked at the stat sheet: three hits, 23 giveaways. I don’t know if I’m [coming] back, but if I’m back, I’m changing this culture. These guys, they don’t care. Losing is not important enough to them. It doesn’t bother them. Like, how can you go out and play like that?
“Should have done this about a month ago, but this is why we are where we are. This is why we’re out the playoffs. That kind of effort. You have to hate losing. I don’t care if it’s a meaningless game. I don’t care. Show up and compete. Three hits, 23 giveaways.”
The Blue Jackets only won 2 of their last 11 games, while the Capitals had a strong end to their season after lulls in December and January killed their playoff hopes in the end.
It will be a new era for the Capitals regardless of whether Ovechkin returns or not, as they have promising young players on their roster who have had plenty of good days this season. It will be interesting to see how they rebound over the next few months in training.
