Tuch is on a tear
Alex Tuch has scored two goals in each of his last two games, and the Washington Capitals ride that form into Nashville on Thursday night. He has nine goals this season after helping beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Wednesday, which closed out a 4-1 homestand.
He had plenty of company. Jordan Kyrou also scored twice, Dylan Strome added three assists and Aliaksei Protas found the net for the first time this season. Kyrou has eight points in his last five games and Strome six in his last two. Logan Thompson returned from a one-game absence with a lower-body injury and stopped 23 shots.
Washington has played only three road games so far and lost two. Alex Ovechkin has one goal and three assists in 11 games, but Bridgestone Arena has been kind to him: 20 goals and 12 assists in 31 career games against Nashville. Thursday is his last regular-season game there. Charlie Lindgren is the likely starter, though he is 0-3 against the Predators with a 3.10 goals-against average.
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Nashville cannot close games
The Predators sit in the middle of a five-game homestand and have taken points in three straight (1-0-2). The latest was a 4-3 shootout loss to the Islanders after they let a 3-0 second-period lead slip. Their record in games decided in overtime or a shootout is 0-0-5.
Filip Forsberg has five points in his last two games, including a goal and an assist against New York, and Alex Kerfoot and Ryan O’Reilly also scored. Juuse Saros made 25 saves and is 5-5-0 with a 2.74 goals-against average against Washington.
Coach Andrew Brunette admitted his team has struggled to protect leads and win in extra time, and he was not happy with the start against the Islanders. The clubs split last season: Roman Josi had a goal and two assists in a 3-2 Nashville win on Jan. 11, and Jakob Chychrun scored twice in a 4-2 Washington win on Feb. 5.
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