It’s an interconference tilt on the ice between a pair of teams in vastly different situations in relation to the playoff picture in the Music City. The Washington Capitals are on the road as they travel to square off with the Nashville Predators Saturday night. Washington comes in off a 3-2 overtime loss at home to Montreal in their previous contest Friday night. Nashville comes in off a 5-2 road loss to Winnipeg in their previous contest Monday night. In the last 10 meetings between the teams, the Predators own a 6-3-1 advantage but it was the Capitals picking up a 3-2 home win in the first meeting this season November 6, 2024.
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Who will win this matchup? Read more about this Capitals vs. Predators prediction!
Capitals Playing Second Game of Back-to-Back
Washington has cooled a bit lately, going 5-2-3 in their last 10 games as they were beaten at home by Montreal Friday night in the front half of a back-to-back set. The Capitals enter this game 27-10-5 on the year and held a five-point lead on New Jersey and Carolina for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. Washington is 2nd in the league in goals per game with 3.66 goals per contest on the year. The Capitals are 5th in the league in goals against as they allow an average of 2.61 goals per contest. Washington is 11th in the league in power play success as they have converted 23.5% of their chances with the man advantage this season. The Capitals are 6th in penalty killing as they successfully navigate through 83.5% of their shorthanded situations this season.
Against Montreal, Washington’s usually high-octane offense was held in check and while they earned one point, they couldn’t get the second one, falling in overtime. The Capitals were outshot 7-6 in the opening period of play but skated off with a 1-0 advantage at the first intermission. Jakob Chychrun opened the scoring with his 12th goal of the season, unassisted and on the power play, at the 2:36 mark of the stanza. The second period saw Washington outshot 13-4 and outscored 2-0 to trail 2-1 at the second intermission. In the third period, Washington was outshot 8-7 but scored the lone goal of the frame to even things up at the end of regulation. Lars Eller tied the game with his eighth goal of the year at 1:54 off assists from Ethen Frank and Taylor Raddysh. In overtime, Washington was outshot 2-0 and gave up the winning goal to skate off with a defeat. Charlie Lindgren stopped all nine shots he faced before leaving with an upper body injury early in the second period. Logan Thompson stopped 18 of 21 shots in relief for the Capitals, who were outshot 30-17, in the loss. Expect Thompson between the pipes here.
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Nashville Looking to Pick Up Third Win in Four Games
Nashville comes in well rested, having not played since Monday night in the final game of a six-game road trip, a loss to Winnipeg. The Predators entered Saturday 13-21-7 on the season and stood seventh in the Central Division, 26 points behind the Jets for the top spot. They are 20 points behind the Stars and Avalanche, who are tied for the final guaranteed playoff spot. Nashville is 32nd in the league in goals per game as they put up an average of 2.44 goals per contest this season. The Predators are tied for 19th in goals against by allowing an average of 3.12 goals per game on the year. Nashville is 20th in the league in power play success as they cash in on 19.5% of their chances with the man advantage. The Predators are 3rd in penalty killing as they successfully navigate through 84% of their shorthanded situations this season.
Against Winnipeg, Nashville struggled offensively again, bringing an abrupt end to their two-game win streak. The Predators were outshot 11-10 in the opening period of play and trailed 3-0 on the scoreboard after the opening 20 minutes. In the second period, Nashville was outshot 10-6 but did score the lone goal of the stanza to narrow the margin to 3-1 at the second intermission. Filip Forsberg got the Predators on the board with a power play goal, his 10th of the year, at 16:45 off assists from Roman Josi and Jonathan Marchessault. In the third period, Nashville owned a 12-9 advantage in shots only to be outscored 2-1, sealing their fate. After giving up a goal to trail 4-1, Josi got the Predators within a pair with his eighth goal of the season at 9:25 off assists from Vinnie Hinostroza and Gustav Nyquist. The Predators surrendered an empty net goal late to close the scoring. Juuse Saros made 25 saves for Nashville, who was outshot 30-28, in the loss. He is likely between the pipes for the Predators here as well.
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Best Bets for Washington Capitals vs. Nashville Predators
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
On one side of the coin, we look at this game and see Nashville has had four days off between games while Washington is playing the second game of a back-to-back and their third game in four nights here. The Capitals had to fly in after playing Friday night while the Predators have had the last few days to get back and decompress after a six-game trip. You could point at Lindgren’s injury being a factor but Thompson was slated to get the start here even before the injury Friday. Nashville simply doesn’t generate enough offense, ranking last in the league in goals per game, to really trust on a nightly basis. Even with a tired Washington squad, we’re looking at a Capitals team that is still extremely dangerous offensively and better than the Predators in their own end. Take Washington, fatigue and all, to get the win on the road.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Washington turned in back-to-back unders with their win over Vancouver and their loss to Montreal, both in overtime, at home in their last two games. Playing a third game in four nights and the second game of a back-to-back could slow down an aggressive Capitals’ forecheck and make them slightly less dangerous. Nashville simply doesn’t score and it’s no longer a small sample size. They’ve played half their schedule and are last in the league in goals per game despite making massive splashes in free agency. Nashville has scored three goals or less in four of their last five games and they have posted 26 unders in 41 games this season. With Washington tired and Nashville firing blanks, this game ends up short of the number.
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