In the nation’s capital for the first game of a back-to-back, the Predators knew tonight’s game was incredibly important for their playoff run. Jarred Tinordi’s ill-timed penalty was the first actual action of tonight’s contest. The dangerous Washington power play went to work, but Mikael Granlund was a force on the penalty kill. Juuse Saros was able to glove an Alex Ovechkin slapshot, and the Predators were able to kill off their first penalty of the evening.
Richard Panik opened the scoring for the Capitals. Yannick Weber chose to screen his own goalie and Saros was unable to get a blocker on Panick’s long-range shot. Just 40 seconds later, Jarred Tinordi scored his first NHL goal on a heavy slap shot.
The Predators were awarded a power play at the midpoint of the first period and Mikael Granlund found the back of the net for Nashville’s second goal of the game. Roman Josi helped Rocco Grimaldi add a third goal for the Predators with just under four minutes remaining in the first period. Washington wouldn’t quit pressuring, and Alex Ovechkin scored his 693rd career goal to pull the Capitals within one.
Because the first period needed a little more action, Kyle Turris was whistled for a penalty and Washington returned to the power play. Although the Capitals had several chances, the game remained 3-2 at the first intermission.
The second period was an utter disaster. There’s no other way to put it.
The third period didn’t begin any better. With teams at 4-on-4 and the Preds now trailing by one, Viktor Arvidsson took a high-sticking penalty against Tom Wilson to give Washington their fifth power play of the evening. Ryan Johansen intercepted a clearing attempt and sniped a puck over Braden Holtby’s shoulder to tie the game while shorthanded.
Late in the third period, Granlund tied up his man in front of Holtby and Yannick Weber was able to find twine for Nashville’s fifth goal of the contest. With Holtby on the bench for an extra attacker, Nashville was able to stymie the Capitals’ attack and gut out a 5-4 win.
Random Observations
- Alex Ovechkin wears #24 in warmups to honor Kobe Bryant.
- Fire Mike Milbury into the sun.
- T.J. Oshie just turned Yannick Weber inside out, but Juuse Saros comes up big in net.
- Juuse Saros gets a glove on a shot from #8. Ouchie.
- Congratulations to Jarred Tinordi on his FIRST NHL GOAL!
- Oh hey, Mikael Granlund.
- Rocco Grimaldi does not quit.
- This period is ridiculous.
- Can we do the second period over again?
- I have no energy to figure out what happened there with Nick Bonino.
- The Preds are shooting themselves in the skates.
- What a response by Ryan Johansen after taking a bad penalty.
- The pace just increased tenfold.
- Yannick Weber puts the Preds on top late in the third!!!
- I have so many conflicting feelings.
- Panicking.
- Gutsy, ugly, nasty win for the Predators.
- On to New Jersey. /
Super Duper Stars of the Game
- Anyone who watched the entirety of this game and didn’t go into cardiac arrest.
Tweets of the Game
Jarred Tinrodi scores his first NHL goal! 1-1. #Preds | #NSHvsWSH
— Thomas Willis (@TomAWillis) January 30, 2020
Blackwell has 2 hits and one shot blocked. Watson and Jarnkrok have zeros in every single stat tracked, simple or advanced https://t.co/xAapFGNjGF
— Bryan Bastin (@projpatsummitt) January 30, 2020
Keith Jones on the #Preds: “They’re not a smart team”
I mean, at this point I can’t argue with him.
— Kristopher Martel (@kmartel_sports) January 30, 2020
I want to believe that Poile went down to the locker room and threatened to send everyone down to the AHL during the intermission. Only logical reason the team is playing the way they are now. #NSHvsWSH
— Trey (@busterrbrown) January 30, 2020
Pekka Rinne has one goal this season.
Jarred Tinordi has one goal this season.
Yannick Weber has one goal this season.
What the hell does Dan Hamhuis have to do to get one?
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) January 30, 2020