The Washington Capitals and Nashville Predators squared off in the first of two meetings this season on Wednesday night. Washington was looking to bounce back from a rough night in North Carolina while the Predators were just looking to bounce back in general.
Juuso Parssinen put Nashville in front early with a high, tip-in tally alone in front of Logan Thompson. Connor McMichael tied things back up, knifing a rebound past Juuse Saros. Aliaksei Protas put the Caps ahead with a power move but Steven Stamkos tied the game again on the next shift.
Alex Ovechkin blasted the Capitals back into the lead mid-way through the third period.
Capitals beat Predators 3-2!
- The Capitals got off to a bit of a slow start but really sank their teeth into the first period after that, exhibiting some of the five-on-five domination we are accustomed to this season. They out-chanced Nashville 14-3 at five-on-five and drew three penalties in the frame. Unfortunately, the power play did what it has regularly done this season, which is nothing.
- Connor McMichael stayed red hot, getting on the board for the seventh time in his last seven games. Matt Roy grabbed his first point as a member of the Capitals with the primary assist after McMichael deposited the rebound from his point drive.
- My head was already spinning before I turned this game on, and then I was met within about five seconds by the Capitals celebrating Hershey’s second consecutive Calder Cup, black Screagle cowboy hats, and Country Music Night. Also, why did Hendrix Lapierre, the 2024 AHL playoff MVP, not take the ceremonial opening faceoff? I love Alex Ovechkin but I’m sure he would not have minded taking one of those off.
- The second period had spells of good from the Capitals but also far too many spells of scrambling around in their own zone. Nashville hit the crossbar and posts behind Logan Thompson at least three times in the frame. A lot of what I just said is reflected in the scoring chances at five-on-five in the period as they ended 14-14 apiece. That’s a lot going both ways and way too much for the Predators.
- Aliaksei Protas has five goals in his last five games after scoring just six total goals in 78 games last season. Another fantastic pass from Alex Ovechkin, who brought his linemates in for some private film study earlier this season, and all they’ve done since is average over a goal per game.
- We saw a few minutes at the end of the second period where the referees missed two calls on Nashville, heard it hard from the Capitals’ bench, called a very soft roughing call on Washington moments later, and then evened play up early in the resulting Predators power play. I’m not sure I could sum up typical NHL officiating more than just writing out that sequence.
- They put new Screagle hat designs in the NHL shop which I did not know about until Ian wrote the post on them. I need that snapback immediately so I figured some of you may also.
Vince Backstrom is one of tonight’s Mites on Ice playing for St. James. pic.twitter.com/XuxKJFVJP0
— Katie Adler (@katieEadler) November 7, 2024
- The Capitals decided to stop playing at five-on-five in the third period. Not a good effort to end the win, but a win is a win, as they say. Really nice night from Logan Thompson again.
- Alex Ovechkin cannot be stopped to start the 2024-25 season. The Great Eight slammed home his eighth of the year and the 861st of his career past Juuse Saros in the third. That first line is just absolutely cooking overall and all the great aspects of it were on display with that goal. Protas with the tough stick work in front, Dylan Strome with the setup, and Ovi with the finish.
- The power play went 0-for-6. There are some games where I think they’ve figured it out, and there are others where they look like they’ve never played together before. This was more of the latter but some leeway because Strome really should have scored that wide-open chance in the third period. I have no idea how he managed to put that puck over the crossbar. It was one of those where he managed to do the harder thing than just score.
Your black Screagle + country music night themed #joebsuitofthenight pic.twitter.com/bZdt3kTcAS
— RMNB (@rmnb) November 6, 2024
The Capitals will take Thursday off to prepare for another set of back-to-back games against the Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues. First matchup of the season against the Pens. Let’s get it on.
