What We Learned: WSH 3, CBJ 2 (2OT)

Brett Connolly's shot looked harmless enough, as pedestrian shots from the left wing in double overtime can often seem.
Turns out, it was anything but harmless.
The rebound that shot created led directly to the puck bouncing off Lars Eller's skate and sliding into the net, giving the Washington Capitals a 3-2 victory against the Blue Jackets they desperately needed, ending Game 3 of an OT-filled first-round series on Tuesday at Nationwide Arena.
"The margin for error is so small in these games," said Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno, who logged the second-most ice time of his NHL career (26:04) and watched that puck bounce off Eller's skate. "You look at how we scored our goals in overtime in their barn [in Games 1 and 2] and how they got theirs tonight. It just makes you realize, the opportunities you have sometimes, you've got to step on their throat. You have a chance on the power play in overtime, you've got to find a way to get that done."
The Blue Jackets just couldn't Tuesday night, after two exhilarating OT goals gave them the first two games against the Capitals in Washington, D.C.
Now, it's onto Game 4, which will be held Thursday at Nationwide Arena (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports Go, 97.1 FM). Overtime might be the expectation for that game, now, rather than the exception.
It's starting to feel that way, as the two Metropolitan Division opponents keep trading blows with every period they play.
The good news for the Jackets is what they did in Capital One Arena in the first two games. They still lead the series by a game, 2-1, and have a chance to take a commanding lead before things shift back to the nation's capital for Game 5.
"It's all little things, but it's learning things too," Foligno said. "We're in a great spot. We put ourselves in an excellent position to have a real good shot at this, so we've got a real good chance Thursday to get better, come in here [Wednesday], work on some things and know that we're going to have our best game come Thursday."
That was the original plan anyway.
After playing 89 minutes of intense hockey, Columbus coach John Tortorella prefers the Jackets rest more than practice Wednesday. Understandable, considering they spent a lot of energy in this one and have spent a lot emotionally playing three straight OT games.
The sense from within the locker room, however, is all adrenaline, as they begin an impatient wait for Game 4 to roll around.
"Actually, I was feeling pretty good [in the second overtime]," Blue Jackets left wing Artemi Panarin said through interpreter Andriy Stepanov. "We just go forward, trying not to be [upset], just keep working, just keep playing. Anything can happen. It's just hockey."
It is, but the stakes do get raised by a couple chips the next time out, which makes the hits even harder, the stage as little bigger and playoff hockey the marvel that it is among the major professional sports.
Here's what we learned:

I: WHAT IT MEANS
The Blue Jackets were disappointed not to get a win in front of their fans, but they're not sulking about the loss.
They still lead the series by a game, still have pressure applied to the Capitals to win Game 4, still have a chance to take a commanding lead back to Washington, D.C. and know they can win there.
"I thought we played much better tonight than we did the other night [in Game 2]," Tortorella said. "It's a hell of a series. Three overtimes. So, we just get some rest [Wednesday] and get ready to play our next one."
II: HOW IT UNFOLDED
The Capitals again scored first, for the third straight game, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Tom Wilson at 5:52 of the second period.
Wilson scored it by tipping a shot from defenseman Matt Niskanen past BLue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky for a 1-0 lead, which was the seventh time in the Jackets' past 11 games they've allowed the first goal, including the regular season.
Washington then appeared to take a 2-0 lead on a goal by Brett Connolly off a goal-mouth scramble, but it was overturned on a coach's challenge to review offside. Getting a lift from that, Dubois cut it to 2-1 at 11:18 of the second on first playoff goal of his NHL career.
Panarin then tied it, 2-2, 4:12 into the third, capping off a perfectly executed 2-on-1 rush.
"I think we're comfortable in that [trailing]," Tortorella said. "We don't want to be there, but I don't think it affects how we play. Sometimes, it's tougher to have the lead. I felt in that third period, they were on their heels, in trying to protect that lead."
III: GIVE AND GIVE RIGHT BACK
The Blue Jackets came out hunting for a game-tying goal in the third, trailing 2-1.
They got it after an errant pass by Alexander Ovechkin turned into a 2-on-1 rush the other way. Panarin and Cam Atkinson had the puck, with Carlson the lone Capitals player between them and goalie Braden Holtby (33 saves).
They sent it back and forth, advancing to the net, before Atkinson just squeezed his final pass to Panarin inches away of Carlson's reach. Panarin put it in the net by just sliding the puck between the left post and Holtby's right skate.
It was Panarin's second point of the game and his eighth straight multi-point effort, including his final five games in the regular season. The assist was Atkinson's 12th straight game with a point, including his final nine games of the regular season.
"He's obviously a talent the Blue Jackets have added, that they didn't have for, maybe ever," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said.

IV: DOUBLE TROUBLE
One slashing call was a problem. Two, back-to-back, wastoo much for the Jackets to overcome late in the second period.
Defenseman John Carlson's goal with 5:17 left in the second, which gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead, was preceded by slashing calls against Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky and defenseman Ryan Murray.
Each was whistled for slashing forward Jakub Vrana, whose stick was snapped each time.
"It's competing, but we've got to be careful," Tortorella said. "We just have to be careful, because we've been notified before the series starts, they're going to call the stick fouls. We just have to be careful. But that's intensity."
Murray's was the one that really put the Jackets in a tough spot. The Blue Jackets were 1:06 into killing Dubinsky's penalty when Murray was sent to the penalty box, giving the Capitals 54 seconds of 5-on-3 power-play time.
It only took 28 seconds for Carlson to cash in with his first goal and seventh point of the series, scored with a one-time blast from the top of the left face-off circle.
V: SINGLETON SPECIAL
It looked like the Capitals had their third consecutive 2-0 lead of the series when Connolly smacked home a rebound 7:53 into the second, which Bobrovsky couldn't stop with a diving effort.
Connolly celebrated wildly, just 2:01 after Wilson's goal, but the play was quickly eing reviewed for offside. The recommendation to challenge the call came from Dan Singleton, the Blue Jackets video assistant coach.
Tortorella agreed and took a risk by challenging the call. Had the goal not been overturned, the Capitals would've still led 2-0 and gotten a power play.
Instead, the goal was overturned when video footage showed the Capitals were indeed offside. The goal was removed, the score went back to 1-0 and Dubois tied it 1-1 just 3:18 later.
"That's a hell of a job by my video coach, Danny," Tortorella said. "That's a great job by Danny. That's offside."
It wasn't the first time Singleton's keen eye has paid off for the Blue Jackets this season. He also recommended Tortorella challenge a goal by Alexander Radulov for goaltender interference in a game against the Dallas Stars on Jan. 18 at Nationwide Arena.
That goal, which would've tied the game 1-1, was also overturned and the Blue Jackets won 2-1 in a shootout.
VI: DUBOIS WITH A 'SNIPE'
Speaking of Dubois, his goal at 11:18 of the second was a thing of beauty, both live and on slow-motion replay.
After getting the puck off a cross-ice feed from Panarin, the 19-year old whipped a wrist shot toward the short side. The puck zipped into the net over Holtby's left shoulder and under the crossbar.
It ripped into the back of the net, as Dubois pumped both fists for the first postseason goal of his NHL career. Helping him celebrate were Panarin and defenseman Zach Werenski, who had the same feeling scoring his first playoff goal last season against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
According to NHL Public Relations, Dubois is the second-youngest Blue Jackets player to score a playoff goal, trailing Werenski by just 18 days. Dubois was 19 years, 297 days old when he hit the back of the net. Werenski was 19 years, 271 days old.

VII: ROBBED BY 'BOB'
Vrana was also notable for a shot he took late in the first period, which Bobrovsky gloved and held.
The Capitals' forward got the puck in the left face-off circle and fired a hard, uncontested wrist shot toward the net. Bobrovsky tracked it, gloved it and froze it, almost signaling that he again was feeling sharp to start out.
Bobrovsky had another great night in net for the Jackets, making 42 saves. The goals he allowed were off a tipped shot from the point (Wilson), a 5-on-3 laser (Carlson) and Eller's game-winner, which deflected off his left skate blade.
VIII: GET USED TO IT, BOYS
Blue Jackets defenseman Ian Cole has a unique perspective inside the locker room, having won the Stanley Cup the past two seasons with the Penguins.
Unlike many of his new teammates in Columbus, he's keenly aware of how long the playoff grind can last and how much physical toll it takes. He loves the excitement around the Jackets in this series, but also lets them know a little about the road ahead.
"The younger guys are obviously jacked up and to get that, it certainly helps a team," Cole said after the morning skate. "Guys are commenting, like, 'Oh, man, blocked a ton of shots already,' I feel pretty beat up.' I'm like, 'Yeah, we've got two more months of this.' But it's something that's like a trial by fire, I think. The only way to experience it is to go through it, and I think we're experiencing it and learning lessons as we go. That will be great for down the road."
IX: MISSING WENNBERG
Alex Wennberg took a fair amount of criticism this season for having a down year statistically, as compared to what he posted last season. His absence the past two games, however, was difficult to cover.
Wennberg, who sustained an upper-body injury during an illegal hit by Wilson in Game 1, is day-to-day with no defined timeline for returning. His vacancy on the Jackets' second line is being filled by Foligno, who is centering Wennberg's most common linemates, Boone Jenner and Thomas Vanek.
Jenner has stood out for his physical play, but he, Foligno and Vanek are still trying to develop chemistry. Wennberg's spot on the roster is also being filled by rookoke Sonny Milano, who played on the fourth line and logged 5:55.
X: JACKETS FANS FEELING IT
As expected, there was a sellout crowd of 19,337 packed inside Nationwide Arena, with only a smattering of Capitals fans mixed into a sea of Blue Jackets backers.
It was the largest crowd in franchise history, regular season or playoffs, which shouldn't have come as a surprise. The Columbus area is fired up about the Blue Jackets and the 2-0 series lead they earned in the first two games at Capital One Arena, winning both in overtime.
Columbus had a day off Monday, after flying home following Game 3 on Sunday, and players noticed the fan interest around the area. Werenski said it became a topic of conversation for a couple of them during a dinner out, as fans came up and wished them well.
Defenseman David Savard, who's known for his big beard - and the beard of his defense partner, Cole - said he was recognized while grocery shopping.
"People were just coming to us, like, 'Great job in Washington,' and stuff like this," Savard said. "Pretty cool to see. It's probably the beard. Me and Colesy have been around. It's kind of magnified with the beard and the 'LumberJackets' [nickname]. It's pretty funny. It's been pretty cool. It shows how people are excited."
Captain Nick Foligno said the city's enthusiasm can be a difference-maker, if they harness the energy of excited fans during games.
"You use it to your advantage," he said. "You just go out and play the game. Obviously, we want to stay out of the [penalty] box and do all the things we've said, but we need to use that momentum they're going to give us to our advantage in the game."
NEXT UP
The series continues with Game 4 between the Blue Jackets and Capitals on Thursday at Nationwide Arena (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports Go, 97.1 FM).