Nashville Predators Secure Narrow Victory
On Sunday, the Nashville Predators achieved a narrow 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals at Bridgestone Arena, managing to bounce back after a 3-0 defeat against the Chicago Blackhawks just one day prior. Roman Josi was the standout performer of the night, contributing a goal and two assists, marking his first three-point game since April 2024.
Game Highlights
This game showcased a familiar trend for the Predators, as they conceded the first goal for the tenth consecutive match. Alexander Ovechkin netted his milestone 917th career goal early in the contest, taking advantage of a 5-on-3 power play situation created by penalties against Josi and Michael McCarron.
Nashville responded with a power play goal of their own, where Steven Stamkos, assisted by Filip Forsberg and Josi, scored to tie the game, marking his 19th goal this season. The situation became more critical in the second period when Josi assisted Cole Smith, who managed to edge past several defenders to score the leading goal, giving the Predators a 2-1 advantage.
Crucial Moments
As opportunities unfolded, Nashville found themselves with a 5-on-3 chance in the third period when Hendrix Lapierre and John Carlson were penalized. In this crucial moment, Josi found the net with another one-timer, scoring his sixth goal of the season and solidifying the Predators’ lead.
Despite a third-period power play goal from Ethen Frank that trimmed Nashville’s lead to just one, the Predators held on for the win. Goaltender Justus Annunen was instrumental in securing the victory, stopping 27 of 29 shots faced, now just one win shy of achieving a .500 record for the season.
Current Standings and Next Matchup
With this victory, the Predators now sit at 21-20-4, amassing 46 points and remaining in fifth place in the Central Division, only two points behind a Wild Card playoff spot. Their next matchup will be against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. CST, also at Bridgestone Arena.
