Capitals at Predators
THE STORY: A brilliant home record lifted the Nashville Predators
into a top-five spot in the Western Conference regular-season standings
last year. That success hasn't yet carried over into the 2011-12
campaign. The Predators look to build on a so-so showing at home as they
entertain the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. Nashville has only two
victories in six home games after posting an impressive 24-9-8 mark a
season ago. The club kicked off a five-game homestand on a losing note,
dropping a 2-1 overtime decision to the Montreal Canadiens in the
1,000th game in franchise history. The Predators will face a Washington club that
has jumped out to a 6-1-1 mark at home but is only 4-3-0 away from the
U.S. capital. The Capitals took three of a possible four points in their
home-and-home series with the New Jersey Devils, winning 3-1 in Newark
before dropping a 3-2 shootout decision in its own building.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Washington, Fox Sports Tennessee
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (10-4-1): Bruce Boudreau was denied his 200th
career NHL win in the loss to the Devils, a game in which the Capitals
squandered a 2-0 lead before ultimately dropping its first extra-time
game of the season. Star winger Alexander Ovechkin opted to use his body
more than his stick, dishing out 11 hits. He wasn't thrilled afterward.
"My job is to score goals, not to make hits," he said. "The second
period, I probably had three chances to score, but I didn’t do the right
thing."
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (8-5-3): Nashville has been
desperate for a go-to scorer to emerge. Patric Hornqvist may be that
guy. The 24-year-old Swede saw his franchise-best six-game goal-scoring
streak halted in a win over Anaheim a week ago, but he still dished out
three assists. He was held scoreless against Montreal, ending a run that
saw him score seven goals and add four assists in seven games.
Hornqvist has two assists in three career games against the Capitals.
OVERTIME:
1.
Washington has prevailed in each of the last four head-to-head
meetings, but every one of those games was decided in extra time. That
includes a 3-2 overtime decision in their previous encounter Oct. 16,
2010.
2. Boudreau wasn't interested in engaging reporters who
inquired about the 200-win plateau, responding simply: "I'm not there
yet."
3. Ovechkin has been sensational against Nashville in his
career, scoring four times and adding four assists in five games. He has
seven goals in seven road games this season - and zero in eight home
games.