Korpisalo makes 30 saves, Blue Jackets shut out Capitals

COLUMBUS -- Joonas Korpisalo made 30 saves for his second shutout of the season when the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Washington Capitals 3-0 at Nationwide Arena on Monday.

Oliver Bjorkstrand scored two third-period goals for Columbus (13-14-6), which is on a four-game point streak (2-0-2), including a 5-2 win at Washington on Dec. 9.
Korpisalo has three NHL shutouts, including Nov. 25 in a 1-0 win against the Ottawa Senators.
"He looks confident, doesn't have any extra motion, and has put up some good numbers for us here," said Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella, who passed Darryl Sutter for 15th in coaching wins in NHL history with his 635th.
WATCH: [All Capitals vs. Blue Jackets highlights]
Braden Holtby made 18 saves for the Capitals (24-6-5), who lost on the road for the first time in six games. Washington has won eight of its past 10, the two losses coming against Columbus.
"We were second on pucks. Slow," Capitals forward Lars Eller said. "Poor execution when we had the puck, as well as lack of attention to detail."
Korpisalo praised his teammates.
"They did a great job blocking shots, using their sticks," he said. "I have to make some saves there too."
In four games against Washington, Korpisalo is 3-0-0 with a 1.08 goals-against average and a .966 save percentage. He made 37 saves in the Dec. 9 victory.
"He's played really well the two games against us (this season)," Capitals coach Todd Reirden said. "We've got to find a way to get in front of him some more, get more into the interior, and make things more difficult for him."

Eric Robinson scored to give the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead at 11:32 of the first period. Alexandre Texier got through a check by defenseman Radko Gudas along the right wall near the Capitals blue line and from the corner sent a backhand pass to the edge of the crease for Robinson to tap past Holtby.
Columbus was shorthanded for 5:14 in the second period, when they were outshot 8-2.
Holtby prevented the Blue Jackets from taking a 2-0 lead when he made the save on Bjorkstrand with 37 seconds left in the period after he got open in the low slot.
"We need to extend our lead when we have the opportunity," Tortorella said. "We have not done that this year."
Each team had 16 shots on goal through the second period after Columbus had a 10-2 lead 8:06 into the game.
Alex Ovechkin had nine of Washington's shots on goal, including five on the power play, but he did not have one in the third period.
"A lot was self-inflicted, but they're a good team," Capitals forward Garnet Hathaway said. "They know how to get to us, and they made some nice plays."

Bjorkstrand made it 2-0 32 seconds into the third. Boone Jenner won a face-off in the Washington zone to Gustav Nyquist, who skated toward the left corner and sent a centering pass that Bjorkstrand tipped in while holding off defenseman Michal Kempny.
Bjorkstrand made it 3-0 at 8:46 when he scored on the rush. Defenseman Andrew Peeke had an assist for his first NHL point.
"Overall, it was a good team effort," Bjorkstrand said. "Every line affects the other lines in a positive way.
"When we play our game, we're a scary team too. When we play to our strengths and our game plan, good things happen. We need to find a way to do that in consecutive games."

They said it

"They come hard to start, then they basically sit back old-school type (of) style. It's one of those games that if one or two go in early, it's a different story. A weird game." -- Capitals goalie Braden Holtby
"You just go play. There's nothing you can do about it. You see where you are in the standings, and we're just trying to find a way to scratch out points."-- Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella on their many injuries

Need to know

The Capitals were shut out for the first time this season. They were 0-for-4 on the power play. … Forwards Marko Dano and Kevin Stenlund each played his first game for the Blue Jackets this season after being recalled from Cleveland of the American Hockey League on Sunday. ... Columbus has eight players out because of injury, and Peeke left the game at 3:02 of the first period when he lost a tooth after a Hathaway shot deflected off his stick and hit him in the face. Peeke returned in the second wearing a shield over his lower face after having his tooth put back in and receiving about 10 stitches. ... Texier has five points (two goals, three assists) in the past five games. ... Robinson has four points (one goal, three assists) in the past four games. ... Linesman Kiel Murchison was hit in the face by the puck on a clearing attempt by Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones and left the game with 27 seconds left in the first period for precautionary reasons.

What's next

Capitals: At the New Jersey Devils on Friday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, MSG+, NBCSWA, NHL.TV)
Blue Jackets: At the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET; FS-D, FS-O, NHL.TV)