Predators at Capitals
The Nashville Predators can clinch the Central Division title and go a long way toward securing the Presidents’ Trophy on Thursday night when they complete a three-game road trip against the Metropolitan Division champion Washington Capitals. The Predators lead Winnipeg by three points with two games left after dropping two of their last three contests, including Tuesday’s 2-1 setback at Florida.
“We played a good game,” Nashville coach Peter Laviolette told reporters after his team recorded 46 shots and had a late goal disallowed by goaltender interference Tuesday. “There’s a lot at stake for them as well. Our guys played hard, we just couldn’t hit the back of the net.” The Predators have a three-point lead over Winnipeg, Tampa Bay and Boston for the Presidents’ Trophy while the Capitals have sealed their division with an impressive 11-2-0 run. Alex Ovechkin leads the league with 46 goals as he tries to reach 50 for the eighth season, but could be one of several players sitting out for Washington after taking a tumble into the boards Monday and missing practice Wednesday. “At this time of year, guys have a lot of bumps and bruises,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz told the Washington Post. “If you get an opportunity to just allow players to heal up, it pays dividends. Because once the playoffs start, it’s another level, and you don’t want to have a guy working from a deficit.”
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, NBCS Washington
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (51-18-11): Defenseman Roman Josi had six shots and the lone goal for Nashville Tuesday and is tied with center Ryan Johansen for fourth on the team with 51 points. Filip Forsberg was kept off the scoresheet after his goal was wiped away with less than 1 second left Tuesday and leads the team with 61 points - one better than fellow forward Viktor Arvidsson, who returned after missing one game with a lower-body injury. Goalie Pekka Rinne (41-13-4, 2.32 goals-against average, .927 save percentage) has lost four of his last five starts.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (48-25-7): Ovechkin scored in Monday’s 4-2 victory over St. Louis and leads Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine (44) by two as he goes for a seventh Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy. John Carlson registered five assists in the last six games and entered Wednesday leading all defensemen in the league with a career-high 66 points - 39 coming in 39 home contests. Trotz will have a decision to make in net for the playoffs as Philipp Grubauer has allowed seven goals while winning four straight starts and Braden Holtby is 4-1-0 in his past five, giving up 13 tallies.
OVERTIME
1. Washington C Jay Beagle (upper-body injury) is not expected to play Thursday after missing the game against St. Louis.
2. Nashville did not get a power-play opportunity Tuesday and is 5-for-55 with the man advantage over the last 18 games.
3. The Capitals, who lost at Nashville 6-3 on Nov. 14, recalled C Travis Boyd and D Madison Bowey from Hershey of the American Hockey League on Tuesday.