Arvidsson's OT goal lifts Predators past Capitals
WASHINGTON -- Viktor Arvidsson scored at 1:05 of overtime and the Nashville Predators defeated the Washington Capitals 2-1 on Thursday night for their third straight victory.
Arvidsson entered the zone as part of a two-on-one and elected to shoot, wristing the game-winner past Braden Holtby for his 25th goal of the season. It was Nashville's second straight overtime win and fourth in 11 tries.
James Neal scored his 21st of the season for Nashville and Pekka Rinne stopped 22 shots.
Nashville (35-24-11), battling St. Louis for third place in the Central Division, earned at least one point in 11 of its last 13 games.
Brett Connolly scored for Washington (45-17-8) and Holtby made 22 saves.
Washington took advantage of a Nashville mistake to take a 1-0 lead at 11:41 of the first period.
Lars Eller harassed Kevin Fiala into a turnover deep in the Nashville end that resulted in two Capitals alone in front against Rinne. Jakub Vrana passed across the slot to Connolly, who connected for his 15th goal of the season.
After looking stagnant on offense for much of the first two periods, Nashville began generating chances late in the second. Then with 1:04 left, Fiala atoned for his earlier miscue when he dropped a pass back to Neal, who fired past Holtby to the glove side from the top of the right circle.
Neal increased his point streak to five games.
NOTES: Washington D Kevin Shattenkirk returned after serving a two-game suspension for his hit on Kings D Kevin Gravel. ... Ds Taylor Chorney and Nate Schmidt did not dress for the Capitals. ... Predators G Pekka Rinne played his 500th game, becoming the 16th NHL netminder to play his first 500 with the one team. ... Nashville C Vernon Fiddler (upper-body injury) missed his fourth game, and D Anthony Bitetto and LW Henry Zolnierczyk were scratched. ... Nashville's Austin Watson traded punches with Washington's Tom Wilson in the third period after Wilson's hard hit on Colton Sissons. ... The Predators are 14-3-2 when James Neal scores. ... Washington fell to 37-7-5 when scoring first.