The Washington Capitals will attempt to win back-to-back video games for the primary time since Dec. 3 after they go to the Nashville Predators on Sunday night time.
Each groups are coming in off video games in opposition to the Chicago Blackhawks. Washington posted a 5-1 victory over Chicago on Friday night time earlier than the Blackhawks bounced again for a 3-0 street win in opposition to the Predators on Saturday.
Nashville outshot Chicago 36-21 however have been shut out by Drew Commesso, who was enjoying in his fourth NHL sport. Juuse Saros made 18 saves for the Predators.
After a scoreless first interval, Chicago took a 1-0 lead within the second and one other aim halfway via the third earlier than discovering the empty internet to seal the win.
“Undoubtedly not our greatest,” Nashville captain Roman Josi stated. “Type of simply felt prefer it was only a 50-50 sport. Type of left it as much as likelihood. They bought that first one, and we simply by no means bought to our sport actually — perhaps for a pair minutes, however not for a protracted interval.”
Nashville has alternated wins and losses over its previous six video games heading into the ultimate two contests on a four-game homestand.
“We’ll take a look at what must be checked out from tonight, after which minimize it unfastened,” Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague stated. “On the finish of the day, we all know what makes us good, and we have been simply off just a little bit tonight. So, it is a good alternative to return again and switch the web page and present up with a greater effort (on Sunday).”
Washington gained six straight video games from Nov. 24-Dec. 3 to enhance to a season-best 17-9-2. Since then, they’ve gone 6-7-4 and haven’t posted consecutive wins. They’re, nonetheless, coming off considered one of their greatest efforts of the season on Friday.
Famous person captain Alex Ovechkin scored his fourth aim in three video games, Connor McMichael had a aim and an help and Ryan Leonard joined defensemen John Carlson and Martin Fehervary in notching two assists in opposition to the Blackhawks.
Logan Thompson, lately named to the Canadian Olympic staff, made 23 saves to snap a four-game winless skid (0-3-1).
“Yeah, I really feel like I used to be cursed for some time,” Thompson stated. “I have been feeling fairly good about my sport. I could not discover a method to get some extent and even two factors. Actually pleased. The blokes in entrance of me have been super tonight, made my life simple. Simply pleased with the 2 factors.”
The Capitals could have had one other pressure at work on Friday night time as this two-game street swing is their annual mentors journey.
Based on the Washington Submit, the Capitals improved to 21-9-0 in video games with their mentors readily available.
“Once they must reply to ‘Dad’ about their particular person sport and the way the sport went, that is the true — so we attempt to do our greatest to place present on and ensure we’re enjoying the best approach,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery stated.
Ahead Aliaksei Protas was plus-1 in 16:12 of enjoying time in his return after lacking three video games because of a lower-body harm.
Thompson is 5-1-0 with a 2.02 goals-against common and .941 save proportion in six profession video games versus the Predators.
Nashville’s Justus Annunen allowed three objectives on six pictures in his solely profession look versus Washington.
The groups are assembly for the primary time this season.
–Subject Degree Media
