Capitals Collapse: Predators rally to beat Washington 6-5
Game 5 of 82 in this young season found Washington playing on the road against a solid Nashville Predators team eager to rebound following their own playoff disappointment. Despite 5 goals from the offense, including two power-play goals from Alex Ovechkin, a late Predators surge snatched victory from Washington’s grasp.
The Capitals kicked off the scoring early in the first period with a goal from Lars Eller. A great passing play between John Carlson, Garnett Hathaway, and Eller gave Lars his first goal of the young season.
As has been the case so far this season, the lead didn’t hold for long. Some guy named Filip Forsberg (no need to bring up why he’s playing for the Predators *stares angrily at George McPhee*), scored his 4th goal of the season on a nifty little wrist shot to even the score.
Alex Ovechkin, who has been oddly quiet, with only one goal so far in 4 games, found the goal column on a power-play in the second period.. From his office, he rifled a shot past Pekka Rinne for his first ever goal against the Nashville goaltender.
The lead did not hold for long, though. Nashville got one back, capitalizing on an odd-man rush. Viktor Arvidsson corralled the long breakout pass and found his centerman Ryan Johanson for the equalizing goal.
The Capitals, who killed two previous penalties, took advantage of Nashville’s aggressiveness. Tom Wilson caught the Predators power play napping, and beat Pekke Rinne shorthanded to give the Capitals the lead once more. Washington would proceed to add to its lead on the power play. Ovechkin, after being held scoreless the previous three games, found the back of the net once again to give the Capitals a 4-2 lead heading into intermission.
Like previous games, this score would not hold. Early in the 3rd, two Predator goals flipped the game on its head. 5 minutes in, Ryan Johanson tallied a PPG to bring Nashville within one. Matt Duchene notched his first as a Predator two minutes later, and suddenly, the game was tied 4-4.
With less than 10 minutes remaining in the game, T.J. Oshie tickled the twine, collecting a pass from Dmitri Orlov and firing it past Rinne to give the Caps their final lead of the night.
With 5 minutes left, former Penguin Nick Bonino gave the Predators life, beating Braden Holtby with a chip shot during a scramble in front of the Washington net. 30 seconds later, Mattias Ekholm gave Nashville the decisive goal, blasting a shot past Holtby to give the Predators a 6-5 lead.
Quick Hits
- Braden Holtby was bad tonight. Very very bad. By my count, Nashville shouldn’t have had more than 4 goals. After Ilya Samsonov’s debut against the Islanders, maybe it’s time to see the youngster in another game.
- Tyler Lewington does not seem capable of handing NHL defensive duties at this time. Maybe he needs another game or two, but the difference between him and Martin Fehervary is gigantic, in my opinion.
- This is the 3rd straight game the Capitals have led in the 3rd period and lost the game. In a Metro division as tough as this, the Caps need all the points they can get.
- Pekke Rinne became the 101st goaltender that Ovechkin has scored on multiple times, despite entering the game with 0 goals allowed. Overall, Rinne becomes the 131st goaltender that Ovechkin has scored on during his illustrious career.
- The next game is tomorrow at home versus the Dallas Stars.
