In Washington, DC, after trading three-goal outbursts with the Nashville Predators, through two periods of play, the Capitals got a shorthanded goal from Evgeny Kuznetsov in the 15th minute of the third period to snap a 3-3 tie and help send the Caps to a 5-3 win.
“I was behind the net. I wasn’t sure [if] we were still 4-on-4 or shorthanded, so I kind of stepped out and looked for the pass,” Kuznetsov said. “But I think [John Carlson] was kind of swinging there and he wasn’t open, so I decided to shoot.”
The Caps improved to 19-6-7.
“The first period went our way. … They got some looks in the beginning of the second and they capitalized,” Washington head coach Peter Laviolette said. “I thought we did a good job getting our composure toward the second half of the second period and I thought we played a really smart and strong third period.”
Ilya Samsonov made 17 saves in the Washington win.
Carlson had a goal and four points for the Caps
After falling behind by three goals in the first period, Nashville replied with three in the middle frame.
“I really liked our response,” Predators head coach John Hynes said. “We came in (between periods) and talked about some things we needed up to tighten up. We talked about getting back and getting the first goal.”
Yakov Trenin scored first, and Eeli Tolvanen and Filip Forsberg struck 35 seconds apart to get the Preds even in the game at 3-3.
“I just think that we didn’t come out with the same pace [in the second period],” Carlson said. “They’re a good team. They work really, really hard, and I think when you maybe sit back just a little bit it makes a huge difference. I think we were getting caught in between a lot.”
Lars Eller, Carlson, and Nic Dowd scored in the opening period for the 3-0 lead.
“I think, ultimately, it was the first period that cost us the game,” Nashville’s Mattias Ekholm said. “We came out too slow and let them dictate a little too much, took too many penalties. Ultimately, they had three goals. It’s hard to come back from that three-goal deficit, so that needs to be corrected.”
Carl Hagelin added an empty-net goal for the 5-3 final.
Juuse Saros made 32 saves in the Predators loss.
“I think sometimes coming off a break when you’re playing against a talented team like that, you have to be a little bit tighter and not give them those types of looks that we gave them,” Hynes said. “But I felt like we had energy. I thought we skated pretty well in the first.”
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