NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Marcus Johansson had a goal and two assists to lead the Washington Capitals over the Nashville Predators, 5-3, on Tuesday night.
Tom Wilson and Justin Williams each had a goal and an assist, and Jason Chimera and Alex Ovechkin also scored. Braden Holtby made 23 saves for the Capitals, winners of their last four games.
Filip Forsberg scored twice and Roman Josi had a goal for the Predators, who have lost three of four since the all-star break.
Chimera scored the first goal at 12:02 of the first period.
Predators captain Shea Weber had the puck inside the Nashville blue line, but his pass attempt was intercepted by Wilson. He carried the puck into the right faceoff circle and sent a pass in front to Chimera, who tipped it by goalie Pekka Rinne.
The Predators carried the majority of the play in the first, outshooting the Capitals, 14-6, but Holtby was sharp throughout.
He denied Cody Bass’ backhand attempt from in close at 2:11 and then made back-to-back saves on Weber and Ryan Johansen on a power play two minutes later. Holtby stopped Weber’s slap shot from the left point, then stuck his leg out and kicked away Johansen’s rebound attempt at what appeared to be an open net.
Wilson made it 2-0 at 4:55 of the second.
Following another Nashville turnover, Johansson carried the puck on the right side and sent a cross-ice pass toward Wilson, who beat Rinne with a one-timer from inside the left circle.
Rinne finished with 18 saves.
Forsberg halved the Washington lead at 14:42 of the second with a wrist shot from the left faceoff dot that beat Holtby high to the far side.
Washington regained a two-goal lead in the third on Williams’ 17th goal when Evgeny Kuznetsov sent a pass from the left dot to Williams in the low slot for the tap-in.
Kuznetsov has assists in three consecutive games.
Johansson scored at 8:03 of the third and Josi answered at 9:49.
Forsberg drew Nashville within one at the 12-minute mark when he scored his second of the night.
Ovechkin scored an empty-net goal on the power play with a minute remaining.
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