The Nashville Predators will look to complete a perfect back-to-back set and collect their fourth win in a row on Saturday evening as they take on the Washington Capitals at Bridgestone Arena.
Puck drop is at 7 p.m. CT, with the game set to broadcast on Bally Sports South, 102.5 The Game and El Jefe Radio. Here’s everything you need to know:
LAST TIME OUT
The Nashville Predators clawed their way out of a two-goal deficit and weathered a chaotic, six-goal middle frame before Filip Forsberg notched his second-consecutive overtime winner to seal a thrilling 6-5 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday at PNC Arena.
Kevin Lankinen turned away 25 shots, Roman Josi and Ryan O’Reilly each tallied a goal and an assist and Tyson Barrie netted his first goal of the season in the win.
The Predators went 1-for-3 on the penalty kill and power play versus the Hurricanes.
The result moved Nashville to 17-13-0 on the season and earned the Preds their 12th win in the last 15 games.
THE GOOD GUYS
Forsberg continues to lead the Predators in points (35) and goals (16), and shares the lead in assists with Josi (19). Josi and O’Reilly are second in points with 26 each (7g-19a and 13g-13a, respectively).
With Lankinen getting the start against Carolina on Friday, Juuse Saros will likely receive the nod Saturday against Washington. Saros is 13-10-0 after 23 games and has earned the win in each of his last five starts. Saros additionally possesses a 2.79 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.
The Predators sit fourth in the Central Division with 34 points, with a 10-6-0 record at home.
THE OTHER GUYS
Tom Wilson leads the Capitals in points with 17 (10g-7a). Dylan Strome leads in goals with 12 and John Carlson assists with 14.
Darcy Kuemper is 6-6-2 after 14 games, with a 3.13 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage. Charlie Lindgren is 6-2-2 after 11 games. He is sixth among all League goaltenders with a 2.39 goals-against average and is third among League goaltenders with a .929 save percentage.
The Capitals are missing forwards Max Pacioretty (achilles, IR) and Sonny Milano (upper body, IR). They are currently fifth in the Metropolitan Division, with a 14-8-4 overall record and a 6-4-2 record on the road.
ALL-TIME MEETINGS
The Predators are 18-12-(1)-4 all-time against the Capitals, including a 10-5-(1)-2 record at Bridgestone Arena. This is the first of two matchups between Nashville and Washington in 2023-24; it is the first and only at home.
The Predators are 2-3-0 in their last five games against the Capitals; they are 7-3-0 in their last 10; and 3-2-0 in their last five at home.
The Predators went 1-1-0 against the Capitals in 2022-23, earning a 3-2 win at Capital One Arena on Jan. 6, the last meeting between the two teams. Ryan McDonagh’s first goal with the Predators at 16:44 of the third period was the game winner. Nashville won eight straight games against Washington from Feb. 25, 2017-Jan. 29, 2020.
NOTABLES VS. WASHINGTON
- Filip Forsberg has 16 points (8g-8a) in 15 career games against the team that drafted him 11th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft. Forsberg was acquired from Washington for Martin Erat and Michael Latta on April 3, 2013.
- Roman Josi recorded a seven-game point streak (4g-5a) against Washington from Feb. 9, 2016-Dec. 31, 2018. He has 14 points (5g-9a) in 18 career games vs. the Caps.
- General Manager Barry Trotz won the 2018 Stanley Cup as head coach of the Capitals. He spent four seasons with Washington from 2014-18, going 205-89-34 in 328 games as head coach.
- Senior Advisor David Poile spent his first 15 years as an NHL GM at the helm of the Capitals from 1982-97.
- Head Coach Andrew Brunette was selected by Washington – with Poile as its GM – in the seventh round (174th overall) of the 1993 NHL Draft. He played the first three seasons of his NHL career with the Capitals, recording 40 points (18g-22a) in 62 games from 1995-98.
MILESTONE WATCH
- Roman Josi (165) is two goals from passing Shea Weber (166) for the third-most in Predators history.
- Colton Sissons is two assists from 100 in his NHL career.
- Tommy Novak is three games from 100 in his NHL career
LINE ‘EM UP
Below are Nashville’s line combinations from Friday’s game against Carolina:
Nyquist - O'Reilly - Forsberg
Pärssinen - Novak - Evangelista
Trenin - Glass - Sissons
Smith - McCarron - Tomasino
McDonagh - Josi
Lauzon - Carrier
Barrie - Schenn
Lankinen
Saros
Scratches: Fabbro, Sherwood (upper body, day-to-day)
WATCH & LISTEN
Coverage for Saturday’s game begins at 6:30 p.m. CT with the Predators LIVE! pregame show on Bally Sports South, hosted by Lyndsay Rowley alongside analyst Hal Gill. Play-by-play announcer Willy Daunic, analyst Chris Mason and rinkside reporter Kara Hammer will have the call on the television side. The game can also be streamed live on Fubo; click here for a 14-day free trial.
Pete Weber and Jay More will call the game on 102.5 The Game and the Predators Radio Network, with pregame, postgame and intermission coverage by Max Herz beginning one hour before puck drop. The game will also be broadcast in Spanish on El Jefe which airs on 96.7 FM, 105.3 FM and 810 AM. (El partido también se transmite en español por El Jefe en 96.7 FM, 105.3 FM y 810 AM.)
