Capitals at Predators
Two teams hoping to avoid following a three-game winning streak with a three-game slide face off on Tuesday, when the Nashville Predators host the Washington Capitals. Nashville concluded a 3-1-2 road trip with back-to-back defeats, including a 6-3 setback at Carolina on Sunday.
The loss ended a seven-game point streak (5-0-2) for the Predators, who received a two-goal performance from Filip Forsberg for the second time in three contests. Washington, which also dropped three straight prior to its winning streak, is coming off its second consecutive one-goal effort - a 4-1 home loss to St. Louis on Monday. Captain Alex Ovechkin netted his league-leading 33rd tally, giving him three goals and an assist over his last three games. The 33-year-old Russian pulled even with Dave Andreychuk (640) for 14th place on the all-time goals list and passed Brendan Shanahan (237) for sixth in NHL history in power-play tallies.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA, NBCS Washington, FS Tennessee (Nashville)
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (27-13-5): Ovechkin already has matched his goal total from 2016-17 - the only season in the last six he has not won the Maurice Richard Trophy. Travis Boyd has registered three points (one goal) over his last five contests following a six-game drought. Nicklas Backstrom ranks second on the team with 45 points but has recorded just one - a goal - in his last six games.
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (27-16-4): Forsberg has returned from his upper-body injury with a vengeance, recording four goals in as many games to reclaim the team lead (18). The 24-year-old Swede, who hadn't played since Nov. 29, watched Craig Smith grab a share of the top spot on the club with a four-goal spurt over three contests from Jan. 1-5 before getting back into the lineup. Defenseman Roman Josi is riding a three-game assist streak during which he has set up four goals.
OVERTIME
1. Predators C Ryan Johansen, who leads the team with 40 points, has notched four assists during his three-game streak.
2. Washington was 1-for-3 on the power play Monday after going 2-for-39 over its previous 13 contests.
3. Nashville acquired Cole Schneider from the New York Rangers on Monday for fellow LW Connor Brickley.