Photo: Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
The Washington Capitals squandered a third-straight third period lead, gave up four goals in the final frame and fell to the Predators 6-5 Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. This was the Capitals seventh consecutive loss to the Predators (0-6-1). (Full game recap is here). The loss was the Capitals’ first in regulation this season and put them at a 2-1-2 (6 points) record, two points behind first place Carolina in the Metropolitan Division. Let’s take a closer look at the stats from the game.
Game Stats
Caps Lines
Braden Holtby started in goal for the Capitals. Pekka Rinne started between the pipes for the Predators. The Capitals starting lines:
#Caps lines in Nashville:
8-Ovechkin, 19-Backstrom, 43-Wilson
13-Vrana, 92-Kuznetsov, 77-Oshie
62-Hagelin, 20-Eller, 14-Panik
28-Leipsic, 18-Stephenson, 21-Hathaway34-Siegenthaler, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 3-Jensen
33-Gudas, 78-LewingtonHoltby vs Rinne. #CapsPreds
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) October 10, 2019
Nic Dowd was the healthy scratch. Michal Kempny has yet to return from injury.
Game Notes
- The Predators led in shots on goal 38-26.
- Lars Eller and Dmitry Orlov led the Caps in SOG with 3 each.
- The Capitals squandered four different leads in the game.
- The Capitals gave-up two goals in a span of 28 seconds of the final frame.
- The Capitals have now been outscored 8-2 in third periods this season.
- Braden Holtby stopped 32 of 38 shots on goal for an .842 game save percentage.
- Braden Holtby has now yielded 15 goals in four games.
- John Carlson had three assists in the game. He has seven assists in five games.
- The Capitals ended their power play scoreless drought with two power play goals from Alex Ovechkin.
Reirden Post Game Presser
Caps head coach Todd Reirden talks with the media after a 6-5 loss against the Nashville Predators pic.twitter.com/xL5JHLcphC
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 11, 2019
Possession
The Predators controlled possession for most of the game. The Capitals had minor surges in the middle of each period, but it wasn’t enough. Without the power play goals, the Capitals would have been blown-out in this one. (Stats via Natural Stat Trick).
For the game, the Predators out-attempted the Capitals 54-35. The differential was fairly consistent across all three periods: 6, 5 and 8.
As for line performance, the Capitals first line was scorched in the 5v5 possession battle. Conversely, the Capitals fourth line generated the greatest positive shot differential (CF>50%) in the game.
By Jon Sorensen
While the blown leads weren’t all the fault of Holtby, I figure Caps should start Samsonov on Saturday in Dallas as a potential momentum changer and give Holtby a break. But wonder what is the deal with so many blown third period leads. Conditioning? Complacency? Something else?
I also wonder if the heavy workload that Holtby had could have been detrimental and he’s having an aging curve like Jose Theodore who had been a Vezina Trophy winner. In fairness, Holtby’s lows in save percentage for a season haven’t been as low as Theodore’s.
Kempny can’t be back too soon.
Yes, Sammy needs to start next game. I thought it would be Nashville, but it has to be against Dallas. If for noth8ng else, so he doesn’t get stale.
Caps first line was outplayed last night. As for newcomers, Hathaway has looked good. Panik and Leipsic have been no-shows so far.
I claim FRAUD! Fraud, I say! All these new “defensive” players on the roster are supposed to make the Caps heavier, stronger, meaner, harder to play against, to defend better. So what are we getting? The goals are POURING into the Caps’ net every game. They can’t stop anybody. And the most expensive guy, Mr. Panik, is 0-for-Washington. Schonfeld’s Caps were better.
Fraud it is! Fraud! And Braden Hole-by. Gives those inspiring Hole-by interviews before every game, morose and weird. Let’s see the new kid! He seems to care. Might actually stop a puck or two.
I’ve seen enough already. Caps stink.
We have Lewy up, only because of Salary cap issues. He’s the cheapest in the system at $650,000k
Where is the hitting? We were supposed to be bigger,more intimidating.I’m just not seeing it.Our biggest stars have to be our biggest stars!
Agree Bruce, I don’t feel we’ve out-Physicaled any team so far in five games.
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Yes all of the above comments spot on and well deserved for sure! For me it’s the coaching and never did like the hiring from the beginning. The handling of the Trotz situation, and of course I would never know the inside scoop on that one, was grossly mishandled. The ownership group, Ted, let this remarkable Stanley Cup winning coach get away. Yes maybe because of potential salary desired and deserved! Who knows, that’s just one part of the story, why Barry is still not the bench coach here for the Capitals ice hockey team. I see nothing different from last years disappointing playoff loss to the Canes until this very present time. Yes numbers and names have changed but the play on the ice hasn’t for the most part. 20 or 25 games into the new season to see if this is a different season or not for the Capitals. Teams are to evenly matched this year. So changes if required may need to be made earlier instead of later.
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