Young trio accounts for six points in Capitals' win

Mathieu Perreault, Cody Eakin and Chris Bourque are all in training camp trying to stake their claim to a roster spot on a deep and talented Washington Capitals team this season.

All three did their best Monday night to make coach Bruce Boudreau's decision a difficult one.

Perreault scored a power-play goal and added an assist, Eakin also tallied and Bourque assisted on all three goals by the Capitals in a 3-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Verizon Center.

Dennis Wideman also had a power-play goal and Michal Neuvirth stopped 22 shots for Washington, allowing only a third-period score by Vinny Prospal.

After Wideman opened the scoring at 9:48 of the first period, Eakin made it a 2-0 game with five minutes remaining before intermission. Perreault added his goal 9:56 into the second.

Perreault has the most NHL experience of the young trio, having compiled 11 goals and 23 points in 56 games with the Capitals over parts of the last two seasons. Bourque has 1 goal and 4 points in 33 games over parts of four seasons with the Capitals and Penguins, while Eakin is looking to make his regular-season NHL debut.

The Blue Jackets, who rested many of their regulars, received 32 saves from Curtis Sanford. Prospal, one of their big offseason signings, broke up Neuvirth's shutout bid with 7:27 remaining.

Columbus also learned Monday that defenseman James Wisniewski, another key addition, will have to sit for the rest of the preseason and the first eight regular-season games after he was suspended for an illegal check to the head of Minnesota forward Cal Clutterbuck during a game on Sept. 23.

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