Alex Ovechkin scored the go-ahead goal and added an assist as the Washington Capitals came back to beat the visiting Nashville Predators 3-2 on Wednesday.
Ovechkin extended his goal streak to five games at 10:25 of the third period with a quick snap shot from the right circle off a feed from Dylan Strome that beat Nashville goaltender Jusse Saros on the far side.
Ovechkin became the third player in NHL history to record a five-game goal streak at age 39 or older, joining Brett Hull and Johnny Bucyk.
Strome had two assists and Logan Thompson made 33 saves for the Capitals, who have won seven straight home games.
Juuso Parssinen and Steven Stamkos scored for the Predators, who have lost four of their past five games. Saros made 33 saves.
Nashville had the early edge offensively and capitalized on a long shift in the offensive zone to take a 1-0 lead at 3:12 of the first period. Philip Tomasino won a puck battle down low on the right side and sent it to Luke Evangelista, who fired a one-timer from the point that was tipped by Parssinen as he drove by the front of the net.
Connor McMichael responded for the Capitals just over a minute later. Saros made the save on Matt Roy’s point shot, but McMichael was uncovered in front to lift the rebound over the goalie’s blocker to tie it 1-1 at 4:26.
Aliaksei Protas put Washington in front 2-1 at 15:03 of the second. Positioned below the goal line, Protas took a pass from Ovechkin out to the front of the net and snapped it past Saros.
Stamkos pulled the Predators even 31 seconds later. Alexandre Carrier sent a shot-pass from the right circle toward Stamkos down low, and he redirected it behind Thompson short side for his first even-strength goal of the season. Stamkos’ first two tallies had come on the power play.
Nashville forward Colton Sissons left the game a minute into the second period with an upper-body injury and did not return.
–Field Level Media
