Capitals Down Predators, 3-2; Alex Ovechkin, Connor McMichael ...
The Washington Capitals dropped the Nashville Predators, 3-2, Wednesday night at Capital One Arena in Washington. The victory improves the Capitals record to 9-3-0 on the season. Ted Leonsis earned his 1,000th win tonight as an NHL owner since assuming ownership of the Capitals ahead of the 1999-00 season.
The Predators opened the scoring less than four minutes into the contest with a deflected goal from Juuso Parssinen, but the Capitals answered a little over a minute later with Connor McMichael’s eighth goal of the season. The initial stanza remained 1-1 into the first intermission.
The two teams traded tallies 31 seconds apart with goals from Aliaksei Protas and Steven Stamkos late in the middle frame for a 2-2 tie at the second intermission.
The Capitals regained the lead midway through the final frame on Alex Ovechkin’s eighth goal of the season and would hold on for the 3-2 win.
Logan Thompson stopped 33 of 35 shots faced to improve to 6-0-0 on the season. Thompson becomes the second goaltender in franchise history to win each of his first six games with the team, joining Tomas Vokoun (6-0-0 in 2011-12).
LINEUPLogan Thompson (5-0-0, 2.97 GAA, .894 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Capitals. Jusse Saros (3-6-1, 2.83 GAA, .902 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting Predators. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:
Aliaksei Protas – Dylan Strome – Alex Ovechkin Connor McMichael – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Tom Wilson Sonny Milano – Hendrix Lapierre – Andrew Mangiapane Brandon Duhaime – Nic Dowd – Taylor Raddysh
Martin Fehervary – John Carslon Rasmus Sandin – Matt Roy Alex Alexeyev – Trevor van Riemsdyk
Logan Thompson Charlie Lindgren
Scratches: Dylan McIlrath, Jakub Vrana, Mike Sgarbossa and Jakob Chychrun (injury).
1ST PERIODThe Predators opened the scoring at 16:48 with a deflected goal from Juuso Parssinen (1). L. Evangelista (5) and P. Tomasino (1) were credited with the helpers.
Pars first of the season ???? pic.twitter.com/FnA31GRuJ5
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) November 7, 2024
The Capitals answered quickly on Connor McMichael’s eighth goal of the season at 4:26 of the first frame. Matt Roy (1) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (6) had the assists.
[insert Mikey goal tweet] becoming pretty common nowadays pic.twitter.com/tGVVcqSEiX
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 7, 2024
After the quick scoring flurry the remainder of the period went without a tally. The Capitals led in five-on-five shot attempts, 23-14 and expected goals for, 1.77 to .44.
2ND PERIODThe Capitals took their first lead of the night on Aliaksei Protas’ fourth goal of the season at 15:03 of the middle frame. Alex Ovechkin (8) and Dylan Strome (14) had the assists.
Takes a Pro to make a silky, smooth finish like this pic.twitter.com/NZ8weyGxxA
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 7, 2024
The Predators got it right back. Steven Stamkos (3) beat Thompson to tie the score 2-2 at 15:34. A. Carrier (4) and R. O’Reilly (7) had the helpers.
IT’S STAMMERTIME! pic.twitter.com/13rdm3PkZA
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) November 7, 2024
The second period expired with the game tied 2-2. Five-on-five shot attempts were tied, 26-26.
3RD PERIODThe Capitals regained the lead midway through the final frame on Alex Ovechkin’s eighth goal of the season at 10:25. Dylan Strome (15) notched the primary tally. It was his 200th career assist.
The greatest goal scorer in NHL history scoring a goal in the best jerseys in the NHL pic.twitter.com/EQVBVj9TBP
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 7, 2024
That would be it as the Capitals held on for the 3-2 win.
SHAVINGS (Via Capitals PR) Connor McMichael scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season to tie the game 1-1. McMichael has scored seven goals in his last seven games dating back to Oct. 23. Pierre-Luc Dubois recorded his sixth assist of the season on McMichael’s game-tying goal. Dubois has assisted on four of McMichael’s eight goals this season. Aliaksei Protas scored his fifth goal of the season. Protas, who scored six goals in 78 games played last season, has five goals through 12 games this season. Protas has recorded eight points (4g, 4a) in his last five games played. Alex Ovechkin recorded the primary assist on Washington’s second goal, extending his point streak to five games (5g-5a–10p). Dylan Strome was credited with the secondary assist on Protas’ goal, extending his assist streak to five games (10/29/24-11/6/24: 8a). Strome’s five-game assist streak is tied for the longest of his career (2/17/24-2/26/24: 7a). Strome’s 14 assists are tied for the fourth most in the NHL, trailing only Nathan MacKinnon (19), Cale Makar (18) and Mark Stone (15). Alex Ovechkin scored his eighth goal of the season and extends his goal streak to five games (6g). Ovechkin is the third player in NHL history to record a five-game goal streak at age 39 or older, joining Brett Hull (7 GP in 2003) and Johnny Bucyk (6 GP in 1974) Dylan Strome tallied his 200th career NHL assist on Ovechkin’s go-ahead goal. With two assists tonight, Strome has now recorded four multi-assist performances in his last five games dating back to Oct. 29. Strome’s 15 assists in 12 games this season lead the Capitals. The only players in the NHL with more assists currently are Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (19a) and Cale Makar (18a). Martin Fehervary was credited with the secondary assist on Ovechkin’s goal. Twenty-three of Fehervary’s 35 career assists have come at Capital One Arena. Alex Ovechkin scored his 130th career game-winning goal tonight versus Nashville. Only Jaromir Jagr (135) has more game-winning goals in NHL history. Capitals owner Ted Leonsis earned his 1,000th win tonight as an NHL owner since assuming ownership of the team ahead of the 1999-00 season. With their 3-2 win over Nashville, the Capitals extend their home winning streak to seven games (10/15/24-11/6/24: 7-0-0). It marks Washington’s longest home winning streak since 2018 (2/24/18-3/28/18: 7-0-0).
