Panarin lifts Blue Jackets in OT again in victory against Capitals

WASHINGTON -- Artemi Panarin became the first Columbus Blue Jackets player to score four overtime goals in a season in a 2-1 win against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Saturday.

Panarin's goal came 12 seconds after Washington's Nicklas Backstrom was called for slashing.
Panarin also scored on the power play at 1:22 of overtime to defeat the Nashville Predators 4-3 on Thursday. Seth Jones and Cam Atkinson each scored three overtime goals in 2016-17.
WATCH: [All Blue Jackets vs. Capitals highlights]
"I loved our resolve. I loved the way we found a way to get the job done in overtime," Blue Jackets forward Nick Foligno said. "[Panarin], that's what he brings to this team. It's a great sign for our confidence right now."
Joonas Korpisalo made 32 saves in winning his second straight start after Sergei Bobrovsky was disciplined by the team and did not dress on Thursday. Bobrovsky was the backup against Washington.

The Capitals tied it 1-1 with 1:06 remaining in the third period when Evgeny Kuznetsov scored on a one-timer from above the right circle. He had gone 17 games without a goal.
"He spends a lot of time with the puck and often is very unselfish with it and likes to distribute first, but I think [it] was a little unexpected that he'd take that one-timer and [a] smart play on his part," Capitals forward Tom Wilson said. "Nice to get him one, for sure."
Cam Atkinson scored his 25th goal of the season for Columbus (26-15-3), which has won two in a row and nine of 12.
Capitals goalie Braden Holtby left at 8:43 of second period after appearing to get poked in the eye by Atkinson's stick.
"That's the last thing I want is to hurt anyone," Atkinson said. "So I was trying to just get in front of the net and got tangled up, I think, with [Washington's John] Carlson and I was looking at their D-man so I had no idea where his head was and obviously I would never, ever try to do that."
Capitals coach Todd Reirden said Holtby was still being evaluated.

"It is scary to see that, especially as a goalie [because] you're not really expecting it because you have the full cage on," Capitals backup goalie Pheonix Copley said.
Holtby allowed one goal on 11 shots. Copley made 10 saves in relief for Washington (27-12-5), which had won three straight.
"We're testing him with a lot of stuff this year and he's again passed with flying colors," Reirden said. "Another example today, he comes right into the game and we give up some chances, and quality ones, and he's solid. That was great."
Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin went to the dressing room late in the first period to get stitches for a cut on his hand but returned for the second.
Atkinson made it 1-0 at 1:00 of the first period after taking a stretch pass from Markus Nutivaara behind the Capitals defense.
"I could see the whole play develop and I was just hoping," Atkinson said. "I was calling for it, but I was hoping, especially when [Nutivaara] picked his head up, that he would see me, and he made a great play and it was a nice goal."

They said it

"It's a really important point. I thought [Columbus] played a very desperate, urgent game. We weren't on top of our game as well as we have been." -- Capitals coach Todd Reirden
"I don't profess to understand all goaltending stuff, but when I see [Korpisalo] just play under control, that's when he's strong. He has the mindset. Things don't bother him, good or bad. He just keeps it even keel."-- Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella

Need to know

Tortorella declined to name his starting goalie for Sunday's game against the New York Rangers. … Panarin has 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in his past 10 games. … Blue Jackets forward Kevin Stenlund played 11:40 in his NHL debut. … The Capitals are 16-2-0 in their past 18 games against Eastern Conference opponents. … Washington defenseman Brooks Orpik played his 999th NHL game.

What's next

Blue Jackets: Host the New York Rangers on Sunday (6 p.m. ET; NHLN, FS-O, MSG, NHL.TV)
Capitals: Host the St. Louis Blues on Monday (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, NBCSWA, FS-MW, NHL.TV)