Capitals fight but fall short to Predators
The Washington Capitals put up a good effort but fell short to the Nashville Predators for the eighth game in a row with a 5-4 defeat.
After an emotonal pregame ceremony where the team and Alex Ovechkin paid tribute to Kobe Bryant, the game began. Richard Panik got the scoring started and the Capitals on the board. It was a laser from the right face-off circle for his sixth goal of the season. The goal came at 9:28 and was assisted by Carl Hagelin.
The Predators stormed back with three unanswered goals and former draft pick Filip Forsberg assisted on the first two. Jarred Tindori tied it at 10:15, Mikael Granlund gave them the lead at 12:52 and at 16:02 Rocco Grimaldi made it 3-1.
Alex Ovechkin scored 24 seconds later with a slam dunk in front of the net to get the Caps back in the game. It was his 35th of the season and the 693rd of his career to pass Steve Yzerman for ninth all time.
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Ovechkin told Harvey Valentine of NHL.com:
"“A big honor to be on that list. Kind of happy, but still a long way to go.”"
3-2 was the score after one with the Caps leading in shots 15-7.
In the second Panik scored his second goal of the game and seventh of the season at 6:01 to tie the game. It was credited to Panik due to a misplay by Nick Bonino on a pass in front of the net that trickled in.
The Caps got a power play opportunity when Mattias Ekholm was called for high sticking Tom Wilson and it was Wilson that made them pay by giving the Caps the 4-3 lead at 11:06. Lars Eller and Ovechkin had the assists. That would be the score heading into the final period. The Caps had a 14-7 edge in shots.
The Predators scored twice in the third to go on to win. First it was Ryan Johansen, brother of Caps prospect Lucas Johansen that tied the game three minutes in on a shorthanded goal.
Nashville took the lead on a goal from Yannick Weber at 15:23 and hung on for a 5-4 win. It is their eighth win in a row over the Capitals, who haven’t defeated the Predators since 2016.
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The loss snapped the Capitals four game winning streak. The Caps went with Braden Holtby in goal for the second game in a row. He made 19 saves in the defeat. They will look to bounce back on Friday night in Ottawa against the Senators.