NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In an exciting matchup on Saturday night, the Washington Capitals claimed a 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators, bolstered by outstanding performances from key players. Alex Ovechkin contributed significantly with a goal and an assist, while Ethen Frank celebrated his first NHL goal. Additionally, Tom Wilson and Andrew Mangiapane found the back of the net for the Capitals, and goaltender Logan Thompson made an impressive 32 saves, leading the team to their second win in three outings.

Filip Forsberg managed to score for the Predators, while Juuse Saros recorded 12 saves, but Nashville faced their second consecutive defeat. Ethen Frank, who made his NHL debut the previous day with an assist, showcased his talent by receiving a stretch pass from Matt Roy at the blue line. He skillfully maneuvered down the right side, beating Saros with a wrist shot from near the lower part of the right faceoff circle at 8:30 of the third period, giving the Capitals a 2-1 lead.

Mangiapane extended the Capitals’ lead to 3-1 with just over five minutes left in the game. Ovechkin then sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, marking the 873rd goal of his career with only 58 seconds remaining on the clock. He is now just 21 goals away from matching Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL scoring record. Wilson opened the scoring for the game at 9:03 of the second period, but Forsberg responded by leveling the game with 3:46 remaining in the second after a scoring drought of 18 games, now netting goals in back-to-back contests.

The Capitals have now extended their point streak to seven games, registering a record of 4-0-3 in that stretch. In contrast, the Predators recorded a season-low 16 shots on goal, yet Washington found a way to capitalize on three out of their 15 shots against Saros.

A significant moment in the game occurred less than a minute after Wilson scored, when Thompson made a remarkable glove save against Jonathan Marchessault during a 2-on-1 rush, showcasing his crucial skills in net. Wilson’s power-play goal marked his team-leading ninth of the season, while Strome’s assist gave him a team-high total of 19 points on the power play.

Looking ahead, the Capitals are set to host the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, while the Predators will face off against the Vegas Golden Knights in their next game.