Capitals Carry Tuch’s Scoring Into Nashville Matchup
Washington visits Nashville on October 29 after Alex Tuch scored twice in a 5-2 Capitals win over Philadelphia. The Predators will host the back-to-back-weary Capitals at Bridgestone Arena.
The Capitals arrive with a 7-4 record and a boost from their 5-2 home victory over the Flyers on October 28, in which Tuch scored twice. Washington has managed just one win in three road games, and the Nashville matchup is the latter of two games on consecutive days that also required travel. Tuch has scored nine goals in 11 games, while Washington averages 3.55 goals per game, ninth in the NHL.
Nashville is 4-3-5 and is playing its third contest of a five-game home stretch. The Predators are coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to the Islanders: after falling behind 2-0, they rallied to tie the game in the third. It was their fifth overtime or shootout defeat in 12 games. Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly each have seven goals, and Nashville’s power play converts at better than 30 percent, third-best in the league. The team averages 2.83 goals per game overall.
Predators captain Roman Josi said a strong opening would be important against a Washington team playing on consecutive nights. The teams meet for the first time this season, with the puck drop set for 7 p.m. CT on October 29. Nashville defenseman William Trudeau is out with an upper-body injury. Washington is without defensemen Rasmus Sandin and Vincent Desharnais, as well as forward Patrick Thomas.