The Washington Capitals (23-17-6) were unable to sweep their 2025-26 Mentors’ Trip. They fell to the Nashville Predators (21-20-4) 3-2 on Sunday night.
Right after the Capitals beat Chicago on Friday, they were still unable to string together victories for the first time in over a month.
The Capitals struck first on a 5-on-3 when Alex Ovechkin scored his 20th of the season in the opening period. However, Steven Stamkos responded with a power-play goal of his own.
After a scoreless middle frame, the Capitals surrendered two goals from Nashville’s Cole Smith and Roman Josi in the third.
The Capitals did manage to cut the deficit with an Ethen Frank tally, but the comeback attempt fell short in the end.
Next up, the Capitals return home to Capital One Arena to host Montreal on Tuesday night.
Capitals Analysis
The Capitals were once again without Tom Wilson, and this time they were also missing Jakob Chychrun with an illness.
Nevertheless, the Capitals got on an early power play which became a two-man advantage. That’s when Ovechkin fired a wrist shot from his office to make it 1-0.
This marked The Great 8’s 20th tally of the season and career goal No. 917. It’s also now the 21st consecutive 20-goal season for Ovechkin, moving him past Ron Francis (20) for second-most in NHL history.
Without Wilson and Chychrun, the Capitals adjusted their PP1 unit which included Ovechkin, Justin Sourdif, Ryan Leonard, Dylan Strome, and John Carlson.
However, later in the opening frame, Nashville also got on the man advantage when Stamkos fired a one-timer past Charlie Lindgren.
In the second period, the Capitals suffered another setback when Sourdif took a puck to the face and did not return.
The third period is when things really fell apart for the Capitals. It all started when Smith moved through the slot and sent the puck home to make it 2-1.
Then, Nashville went on a two-man advantage of their own as Josi blasted a one-timer past Lindgren.
The Capitals attempted to come back when Ovechkin fed the puck to the front as Frank fired the puck past Justus Annunen. He now has eight goals this season.
The Capitals came close to tying it in the end with multiple chances, but the rally attempt was not meant to be.
Capitals Report Card
Team: C+
The Capitals got off to a strong start, but fell apart midway through, as they weren’t able to rally back in the end.
Alex Ovechkin: A
The 40-year-old Ovechkin scored his 20th goal of the season on a 5-on-3 power play, as he finished with two points on the night.
Capitals Special Teams: B-
The Capitals were able to add two goals on the man advantage from Ovechkin and Frank. But the penalty kill surrendered a pair of tallies from Nashville.
Charlie Lindgren: B-
Lindgren got the start between the pipes and looked decent. He managed to stop 18 of 21 shots on the night.
Brandon Duhaime: D
Duhaime seems to be spending more time in the penalty box lately. He now has 16 penalty minutes combined in his last four games.
