Washington Capitals vs Columbus Blue Jackets, Dec. 31, 2026
Washington Capitals6-4-0, 12 pts- 1:00 PMCT
- 12:00 PMMT
- 11:00 AMPT
Columbus Blue Jackets4-5-0, 8 ptsThe Washington Capitals visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026. Puck drop is 2:00 PM ET on CBJNHL. The Capitals arrive at 6-4-0 and the Blue Jackets at 4-5-0. It is the first meeting of the two clubs in 2026-27.
| Date | Start time | Matchup | TV | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Dec 31 | CBJNHL | Scheduled |
Capitals vs Blue Jackets Game Details
The fixed facts for this game in one place. The Blue Jackets play at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.
| Matchup | Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets |
|---|---|
| Date | Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Puck drop | 2:00 PM ET |
| Status | Scheduled |
| TV | CBJNHL |
| Venue | Nationwide Arena, Columbus |
| Home team | Columbus Blue Jackets (Columbus, United States) |
| Away team | Washington Capitals |
| Game type | Regular season |
| Season | 2026-27 |
What Time Does Capitals vs Blue Jackets Start?
The Capitals vs Blue Jackets start time is 2:00 PM ET on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026. That is 1:00 PM Central, 12:00 PM Mountain and 11:00 AM Pacific.
| Time zone | Start | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 2:00 PM | Columbus, Washington |
| Central (CT) | 1:00 PM | |
| Mountain (MT) | 12:00 PM | |
| Pacific (PT) | 11:00 AM | |
| Atlantic (AT) | 3:00 PM | |
| Newfoundland (NT) | 3:30 PM | |
| Your time |
How to Watch Capitals vs Blue Jackets
Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets is on CBJNHL, with puck drop at 2:00 PM ET.
National NHL games in the United States air on ESPN, ABC, TNT, truTV and ESPN+. Games outside those windows go to the regional networks for the Columbus and Washington markets.
Capitals vs Blue Jackets in 2026-27: Head to Head
The Capitals and the Blue Jackets meet 4 times in 2026-27. None of the games has been played yet; this is the season series in full.
| Date | Start time | Matchup | TV | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Dec 26 | Columbus Blue JacketsCBJWashington CapitalsWSH | CBJNHL | Scheduled | |
| Thu, Dec 31 | CBJNHL | Scheduled | ||
| Sat, Apr 3 | Columbus Blue JacketsCBJWashington CapitalsWSH | CBJNHL | Scheduled | |
| Tue, Apr 6 | Washington CapitalsWSHColumbus Blue JacketsCBJ | CBJNHL | Scheduled |
Form and Standings: Capitals and Blue Jackets
The Capitals are 6-4-0, 4th in the Metropolitan Division with 12 points and a last-10 record of 6-4-0. The Blue Jackets are 4-5-0, 8th in the Metropolitan with 8 points and 4-5-0 in their last 10.
| Team | GP | Record | PTS | Home | Away | GF | GA | Streak | Last 10 | Last 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 6-4-0 | 12 | 5-2-0 | 1-2-0 | 34 | 32 | W1 | 6-4-0 | WLWWL | |
| 9 | 4-5-0 | 8 | 4-3-0 | 0-2-0 | 22 | 30 | W1 | 4-5-0 | WLLWL |
Next Game for the Capitals and the Blue Jackets
Washington Capitals
The Capitals next play vs Ottawa Senators on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027 at 7:00 PM ET.
| Date | Start time | Matchup | TV | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Jan 2 |  Ottawa SenatorsOTTWashington CapitalsWSH | TV channel not announced yet | Scheduled |
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets next play vs Boston Bruins on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027 at 7:00 PM ET on CBJNHL.
| Date | Start time | Matchup | TV | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Jan 2 |  Boston BruinsBOSColumbus Blue JacketsCBJ | CBJNHL | Scheduled |
FAQ About Capitals vs Blue Jackets
What time is Capitals vs Blue Jackets on Dec. 31?
2:00 PM ET (1:00 PM CT, 12:00 PM MT, 11:00 AM PT). Atlantic, Newfoundland and your own local time are in the start-time table above.
What channel is Capitals vs Blue Jackets on?
The game is on CBJNHL. National games also stream on ESPN+ in the United States; in Canada the Sportsnet windows apply.
Where is Capitals vs Blue Jackets being played?
At Nationwide Arena in Columbus, home of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Washington Capitals are the visiting team.
Who has the better record, the Capitals or the Blue Jackets?
The Capitals. They are 6-4-0 with 12 points, against 4-5-0 and 8 points for the Blue Jackets.
How many times do the Capitals and Blue Jackets play in 2026-27?
4 times. None has been played yet.
Does Capitals vs Blue Jackets count in the standings?
Yes. It is a regular-season game: two points for a win, one for a loss in overtime or a shootout.
What time does Capitals vs Blue Jackets end?
A regular-season NHL game runs about 2 hours 30 minutes, so this one should end around 4:30 PM ET. Overtime adds up to five minutes, and a shootout a few more.
Is Capitals vs Blue Jackets on national TV?
No. CBJNHL is a regional broadcast, shown in the Columbus and Washington markets. Outside those markets it needs an out-of-market package.
Updated Scores update every 120 seconds while games are live.