Anderson only got a taste of Game 1, after his boarding major on Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny also resulted in a game misconduct. He and the rest of the Blue Jackets are eager to get back on the ice for the second game.
Having two days between games allowed Columbus to savor its victory in the series-opener a little more than usual, but the party was long over by the time the Blue Jackets got on the ice for practice Saturday at Capital One Arena.
"It's like we've been here for a week before games, having these two days," coach John Tortorellla said. "We just want to refocus them. I hope they had a blast enjoying that win for a few hours, but [Saturday was] a work day and [Sunday] we get back at it here. You have some momentum on your side, in winning a game, but it changes quickly. Home or away, you're looking to win the next game. So, keep your focus, and I feel that our team's there."
It won't be long before that's put to the test.
It also won't be long until the Jackets' depth at the center position gets tested. Alex Wennberg is day-to-day and doubtful to play, after being struck in the head during an illegal hit by Washington's Tom Wilson in Game 1.
His role as second-line center will be filled by captain Nick Foligno, while Brandon Dubinsky moves from a wing spot on the fourth line back to the middle for the Jackets' third line. Rookie Sonny Milano will enter the lineup for the first time this postseason, playing left wing on Dubinsky's line.
Sergei Bobrovsky will start in net for Columbus, while Philipp Grubauer will make his second straight start for the Capitals. Veteran center Jay Beagle (upper-body injury) will return for Washington and center the fourth line.
SERIES RECAP
The Capitals took a 2-0 lead in Game 1 on Thursday, scoring two power-play goals on Anderson's boarding major late in the first period. Columbus clawed its way back on goals by Wennberg in the second period and Vanek early in the third. Devante Smith-Pelly and Seth Jones traded goals later in the third, and Artemi Panarin won it for the Blue Jackets in overtime.
WHO'S HOT
Blue Jackets: Panarin had a goal and two assists for a single-game postseason franchise-record of three points. Panarin also had multi-point efforts in his final five games of the regular season.
Capitals: Evgeny Kuznetsov had two goals for the Capitals in the first game, scoring both on a five-minute power play late in the first period. He finished the regular season on a four-game point streak.
SERIES ANALYTICS
Columbus
Washington
SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY
Columbus
Washington
PENALTY KILL
Columbus
Washington
SCOUTING REPORT
EYES ON: THE BLUE JACKETS
EYES ON: THE CAPITALS
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Forwards
Artemi Panarin - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Cam Atkinson
Boone Jenner -Nick Foligno - Thomas Vanek
Sonny Milano - Brandon Dubinsky - Josh Anderson
Matt Calvert - Mark Letestu - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Defensemen
Zach Werenski - Seth Jones
Ian Cole - David Savard
Ryan Murray - Markus Nutivaara
Goaltenders
Sergei Bobrovsky
Joonas Korpisalo
Others: Markus Hannikainen, Alexander Wennberg, Alex Broadhurst, Taylor Chorney, Jack Johnson, Scott Harrington, Dean Kukan, Lukas Sedlak (upper body)
CAPITALS
Forwards
Alex Ovechkin - Evgeny Kuznetsov- Tom Wilson
Andre Burakovsky - Nicklas Backstrom - T.J. Oshie
Brett Connolly - Lars Eller - Devante Smith-Pelly
Chandler Stephenson - Jay Beagle - Alex Chiasson
Defensemen
Michal Kempny - John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov - Matt Niskanen
Brooks Orpik - Jakub Jerabek
Goaltenders
Philipp Grubauer
Braden Holtby
Scratched: Madison Bowey, Jakub Vrana, Christian Djoos, Shane Gersich, Brian Pinho, Travis Boyd, Pheonix Copley
