Gameday Preview – 12/31/2018 – Nashville Predators v. Washington Capitals

Nashville Predators (22-15-2 46pts) v. Washington Capitals (24-10-3 51pts)

 

Time: 1230p EST

Station: NBC Sports Washington, Fox Sports Tennessee, Sportsnet, NHL Network

 

Preview:

The Washington Capitals will look for their fifth consecutive victory as they host the Nashville Predators for a New Year’s Eve matinee. The Predators come to DC with the hopes of ending their six game losing streak, and regain some ground in the Western Conference.

GAME NOTES: In their first year as Stanley Cup champions, the Capitals close out 2018 with one final game against the Nashville Predators tomorrow afternoon. https://t.co/VtXzfhhL05 pic.twitter.com/EoEDTvqxOx

— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) December 30, 2018

CAPS TODAY: Madison Bowey and Tyler Lewington became the 19th defensive pair in NHL history, and the first in franchise history, to score their first career goal in the same game. More info on https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/IwJrwXEvnx

— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) December 30, 2018

 

Nashville Predators:

Projected Lineup:

Ryan Hartman — Ryan Johansen — Viktor Arvidsson

Kevin Fiala — Calle Jarnkrok — Craig Smith

Miikka Salomaki — Nick Bonino — Austin Watson

Zac Rinaldo — Frederick Gaudreau — Rocco Grimaldi

Mattias Ekholm — P.K. Subban

Roman Josi — Ryan Ellis

Dan Hamhuis — Anthony Bitetto

Pekka Rinne

Juuse Saros

Scratched: Matt Irwin

Injured: Kyle Turris (lower body), Filip Forsberg (upper body), Colton Sissons (lower body), Yannick Weber (undisclosed)

 

Keys to the Game:

1. Get their game back on track

The Predators are looking to end their losing streak and in order to do that they will need to get their game back on track. They need to play a solid team game and try to work themselves out of this  rut they are in.

 

Washington Capitals:

Projected Lineup:

Alex Ovechkin — Nicklas Backstrom — T.J. Oshie

Jakub Vrana — Evgeny Kuznetsov — Tom Wilson

Andre Burakovsky — Lars Eller — Brett Connolly

Chandler Stephenson — Nic Dowd — Devante Smith-Pelly

Michal Kempny — John Carlson

Dmitry Orlov — Madison Bowey

Jonas Siegenthaler — Tyler Lewington

Braden Holtby

Pheonix Copley

Scratched: Dmitrij Jaskin, Travis Boyd

Injured: Christian Djoos (leg), Brooks Orpik (knee), Matt Niskanen (upper body)

 

Keys to the Game:

1. Start strong, finish strong

Against the Ottawa Senators the Capitals started strong, but in the second period they let off the gas after their third goal and let the Senators back into the game. The Capitals are facing a very hungry Predators team who wants to end their losing streak, and they need to play a full 60 minutes to look to keep their winning streak alive.