Young goaltender Yaroslav Askarov made 26 saves including two on Kuznetsov and Ovechkin in the shootout to earn the Predators two points and Askarov's first career NHL win in a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals.
Young goaltender Yaroslav Askarov made 26 saves including two on Kuznetsov and Ovechkin in the shootout to earn the Predators two points and Askarov's first career NHL win in a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals.
The Nashville Predators played the second game of their road back to back against the Washington Capitals Saturday at Capital One Arena. The Predators lost a 5-4 overtime game Friday to the Detroit Red Wings.
Tonight Yaroslav Askarov got the start in net for Nashville. Askarov was recalled by the Predators on December 27 as backup goaltender Kevin Lankinen was listed as day-to-day with illness. Askarov played the third period of that night's game against the Carolina Hurricanes and made six saves on six shots despite the loss.
Andrew Brunette made a few adjustments to the forward lines.
The Washington Capitals lost goaltender Charlie Lindgren last night in their loss to the New York Islanders. Hunter Shepard got his third NHL start in net after Darcy Kuemper finished last night's game.
Nashville opened the game with offensive zone time and pressure on Shepard. Luke Evangelista cleaned up a loose rebound from his knees in the slot to get the Predators on the board at 2:44.
The first penalty of the game was assessed to Alex Ovechkin for cross checking Filip Forsberg at 6:03. Nashville's top power play unit went to work, and at 6:55 Roman Josi scored to give the Predators a 2-0 lead.
Jeremy Lauzon had trouble corralling a pass back into the defensive zone, and the turnover resulted in a goal by Ben Malenstyn at 10:25. The goal gave the Capitals the momentum, and they pressured offensively. A trip by Michael McCarron gave Washington a power play opportunity at 12:46, but the Predators' penalty kill tied up the puck and didn't allow any shots on goal for the two minutes.
McCarron and Tom Wilson decided to drop the gloves with just over four minute left in the period, and both headed to their respective locker rooms to serve their five minute penalties. After the buzzer sounded, a late hit by Joel Edmundson on Jeremy Lauzon ignited a spat, and both Lauzon and Edmundson were assessed two minute penalties to start the second period.
The teams started the second period with four on four play, but neither team could capitalize on the extra ice space and the teams returned to full strength. Washington had the early advantage with puck possession. A shot at 7:33 rang off the post to Askarov's right, but Alexandre Carrier found the loose puck behind the young goaltender and pushed it under a sprawling Askarov to prevent the score.
At 12:56 Luke Evangelista headed to the penalty box for a hold, and the Capitals had their second chance on the power play. Just as the two minutes expired, Dylan Strome found Alex Ovechkin in the circle and Ovechkin tied the game up 2-2.
The Predators had a three-on-one chance, but Shepard made consecutive saves. Forsberg and Tommy Novak created a two-on-one chance, but again Shepard came up with a big save. Despite the Predators outshooting the Capitals 13-5 in the middle period, the teams headed into the second intermission tied 2-2.
A hold by Connor McMichael at 4:01 in the third period gave Nashville their second power play opportunity of the game, but they couldn't capitalize. Play went back and forth as each team worked to get the go ahead goal.
Tommy Novak, Yakov Trenin, and Michael McCarron each had chances to score late in the period but couldn't get the puck past Shepard. A delayed penalty on Luke Schenn brought on Ovechkin as the extra attacker, and with less than a minute to go it appeared Ovechkin scored the go ahead goal. The play was reviewed, and the goal was waved off for goaltender interference.
The Capitals couldn't convert on the power play in regulation, and carried over 1:01 of power play time into overtime. Colton Sissons blocked a shot and Askarov made a save to end the power play. Play continued at four on four as Schenn came out of the box until a whistle with 1:02 left in overtime put the teams back at three on three. Neither team could end the game in overtime, and the goaltenders prepared for the shootout.
Askarov made the save on Evgeny Kuznetsov and Gustav Nyquist scored in the first round. Askarov saved Alex Ovechkin's shot, and Ryan O'Reilly scored to end the game 3-2.
From the Archive: Building the First Predators Team
Takeaways from Predators Overtime Loss to Red Wings: Better But More Work to Do
Forberg, Nyquist Have Multi-Goal Games, Josi Fights, But Preds Fall to Red Wings In OT