Photo: Frederick Breedon

The Caps had a spirited effort against the Nashville Predators, erasing a two-goal hole and gaining the lead, but James Neal– that jerk– got the best of the Caps twice, earning a W for the home team and ending Washington’s win streak at three.

The game was back-and-forth until Seth Jones’s shot after an offensive-zone faceoff win for the Predators beat Holtby’s glove side. James Neal found a good spot and got a better bounce to put the Preds up two goals in the second period, but hold up–

Ovi comin’.

Alex Ovechkin scored on monster shot from, like, no angle during 5v5 and then doubled it up with a power-play shot from the Ovi spot two and a half minutes later. That guy alone changed the game before you had time to go potty.

Marcus Johansson notched a PPG in the third before Mattias Ekholm tied it up on the power play late in the third. Then, with one hundred seconds late, Matt Niskanen choked the puck up to James Neal, who scored an unassisted layup.

Preds beat Caps 4-3. Stunned.

• Major props to the Nashville Predators for basically pumping up various members of the Capitals staff and roster during stoppages in play. Real classy, plus it relieved the Caps of the job of motivating themselves.
• You thought, after he gave up two goals, this would be the game where Braden Holtby cracked? You cynical bastard. You were just as wrong as the thousands of Preds fans chanting “Holt-beeeee” after the second one got past him. Then he put up a gull-durn brick wall in front of the goal until the Ekholm goal. Did you see that one save halfway through the third? That was trail mix nuts. Not enough for the decision, but not a bad game from Braden in my reckoning.
• Alex Ovechkin was an absolute revelation in the second period as he scored two goals and looked liable to score another 84 after that. Ovi was positively driven at all stages of the game– entering the zone, getting in position, shooting, shooting, shooting during the power play, and rocking a respectable beard. Also shooting. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: it’s a damn privilege to watch him play. Nine shots on goal.
• Filip Forsberg only got five. What a scrub.
• Eric Fehr suffered a lower-body injury and did not play. His status is day to day. Michael Latta took his roster spot and got thoroughly destroyed in possession (but look at his linemates). I wanted Latta to get top line time to prove that the trade wasn’t a complete fiasco, but all the people responsible for that trade have peaced out, so no one cared.
• Even when Marcus Johansson was stinking up the joint during 5v5 under Oates, I always lauded his power-play moves. Surprisingly, he’s a tenacious little terrier in front of the net, which is what earned him the go-ahead goal in the third period.
• I don’t want to take too much away from the Predators. They played an even game, especially in the first period except for that 6-minute span when the Caps took over. But their early goals were things of luck: John Carlson screened Braden Holtby completely on Seth Jones‘ blue-line shot, and James Neal was the beneficiary of a fortuitous bounce.
• Brooks Orpik did that thing that he does pretty much every other game where he does a thing and then sits in the penalty box for up to two minutes of game time. Except, yet again, the call– this time an elbowing– was pretty soft. Orpik’s reputation combined with Washington’s reputation has added up to a lot of PK practice for the Caps.

Joe B suit of the night

(That’s my least favorite Joe B suit.)

Off-topic: Dan Carcillo should go to jail for this shit. Matty P is off limits.

Otherwise, not much to say, and not much time to say it. The Caps have another one coming in just 24 hours, against arguably an even better team in the Dallas Stars. I don’t think the Caps played poorly here– and Alex Ovechkin was marvelous– but it wasn’t enough this once. Tough beat. Kinda stunned.

Full RMNB Coverage of Caps vs Preds