Predators at Capitals
THE STORY: Dale Hunter has done a fine job filling some holes on
defense since taking over for Bruce Boudreau behind the Washington
Capitals bench. But the former team captain has not been able to coax
any more scoring out of a team that on paper boasts some of the best
offensive talent in the league. The Capitals have totaled three goals in
their last three games and have averaged 2.3 tallies during Hunter’s
nine-game tenure. They face a big challenge Tuesday when the surging
Nashville Predators visit. The Predators have won five straight - each
by one goal - and are coming off a 2-1 shootout victory over St. Louis
on Saturday. Pekka Rinne has faced at least 36 shots in each of the last
three games and has allowed a total of five goals.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Tennessee (Nashville), CS Washington
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (17-11-4):
Rinne got his first shootout win of the season Saturday after facing 40
shots in regulation. He has been in goal for all five wins and has
gotten plenty of help from defenseman Shea Weber, who scored the tying
and winning goals against Detroit on Thursday and assisted on the lone
regulation tally Saturday. Nashville has a busy week with three games in
four days, including a trip to Dallas on Friday.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (16-14-1):
A four-game stretch in which Washington totaled 17 goals provided a
glimpse of what the team could do and resulted in three wins. But the
Capitals could not keep up the pace, falling flat over their last three.
Star left wing Alex Ovechkin was held off the score sheet in Saturday’s
2-1 loss at Colorado and has not had a multi-point game since Nov. 4.
Alexander Semin recorded the lone tally against the Avalanche, snapping
an eight-game goalless drought. Semin does not have a multi-point game
since Oct. 18.
OVERTIME:
1. The Predators took the first meeting 3-1 at
Nashville on Nov. 15, scoring all three goals in the final 4:18 of the
third period. Washington had taken the previous five in the series.
2. Ovechkin has four goals and eight points in six career games against the Predators.
3. Rinne made 39 saves in his lone start against Washington.