Capitals end 2023 with four straight losses

The Washington Capitals overcame a 2-0 deficit but a bad call robbed them a chance to end 2023 with two points. In the first the Predators got goals from Luke Evangelista at 2:44. Then Roman Josi doubled the lead with a power play goal at 6:55.

The Caps got on the board thanks to Beck Malenstyn's third goal of the season. It was assisted by Nic Dowd and Trevor van Riemsdyk. The Caps outshot the Predators 13-11 in the first period.

While the Caps were outshot 13-4 in the second period they still got the tying goal and it came from Alex Ovechkin from the office at 14:59 for his seventh goal of the season and 829th of his career. Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas had the assists.

In the third period Ovechkin thought he had won the game but the goal got taken away by the refs and a challenge for goaltender interference.

Capitals coach Spencer Carbery spoke on that disallowed goal:

"I would have like that to have counted... my personal take is there's not enough there to overturn, especially to overturn it because that's where it gets tricky is when it's called a goal on the ice, it needs to very, very evident to overturn. That's the way that's been described to us from the league. And so in that situation, given that, is there enough there? It's tight. So I would've, for me, that goal should stand, but that's the situation room."

The Caps nex three games could determine the course of the rest of the season. First up is two straight games that are nationally televised. First up Jan. 2 at the Pittsburgh Penguins, then Wednesday at home against the New Jersey Devils.

The Penguins game will be on ESPN plus and Hulu while the Devils one is on TNT. Then on Friday the 5th the Caps host the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Caps are just two points ahead of the Penguins while tied with the Devils with 40 points while the Hurricanes sit 44 points ahead.