In Nashville Tuesday night, the Predators got scoring from across the bench including Nick Bonino on his return to the lineup in a 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals.
It was the fifth straight win for the Preds.
“Well, we know how skilled they are,” Bonino said. “We played probably one of the best periods you can play against them. We gave them a few shots on the power play at the end of the first, but for the most part didn’t give them much.”
Filip Forsberg, Kevin Fiala, Craig Smith, Miikka Salomaki, and Mattias Ekholm also scored for Nashville.
“We didn’t deserve to win,” Caps head coach Barry Trotz said. “We weren’t ready to go. In the first period, they won every puck battle, every puck race. They got back to the front of our net really quick. They were getting tips. They were just more determined than us in the first period. It was ugly.”
T.J. Oshie had two goals and Alex Chiasson added a solo marker in the loss.
“The confidence that we got last year from the run that we had is starting to come back,” Ekholm said. “The way we played last year, it’s looking more like it. It’s a good feeling.
“Obviously five in a row, and we’re just looking to keep it going on Thursday.”
[WATCH: All Capitals vs. Predators highlights]
Braden Holtby got the start for the Caps and made 19 saves, yielding six goals.
“They’re a good hockey team, no question. They jumped on us early. We didn’t show up in the first. We showed up in the second, and in the second we needed a couple saves. We didn’t get them, and it put us really out of reach there,” Trotz said.
Philipp Grubauer relieved Holtby after the second intermission and made six saves.
“It wasn’t the cleanest game,” Bonino said. “I thought our line was trying to get in their zone the whole time. Just caught them on the rush and was able to get my stick on it. Sometimes you need those.”
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