Pregame Notes: Washington Capitals at. Nashville Predators

 The Caps are on the road where they will see former draft pick and rookie of the year front runner Filip Forsberg and the red hot Nashville Predators. The morning skate hasn't happened yet but here is my projected lineup for tonight's game.


Forwards:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Burakovsky
Johansson-Kuznetsov-Brouwer
Laich-Fehr-Ward
Chimera-Beagle-Wilson


Defense and Goalies:

Orpik-Carlson
Alzner-Niskanen
Hillen-Green

Holtby
Peters


Other Notes:

*The Predators will be without their All-Star goalie Pekka Rinne for the next 3-5 weeks. That's a big blow for the Preds. We might see Carter Hutton in the net for Nashville tonight.

*The Preds have been great this year but if the Caps can play a heavy game they have a chance to win. The PK will have to be good tonight, or even better if they can stay out of the penalty box.

*Barry Trotz returns to a place where he was the head coach for 16 years. He was the face of the Nashville Predators and his daughter still lives in the Nashville area. I'm sure it will be emotional game for Coach Trotz.

*It is important that the Caps get all four lines rolling tonight with back to back games this weekend.

*The Laich-Fehr-Ward line needs to set the tone tonight, they did against the Flyers which kept Claude Giroux and Jakob Vorecek in the defensive zone. If the Caps can make the Preds forwards defend that will again help the cause.

*Braden Holtby will start tonight, all things are pointing towards Justin Peters to play in Dallas tomorrow. Holtby has been great even though he was snubbed when it comes to the All-Star game. Holts could use a day of rest though tomorrow but we will wait and see for sure.

*Jason Chimera has played well the last two games, he doesn't like being on the 4th line and he is stepping up.

*Overall this will be a good test for the Caps, with the Rangers loss last night the Caps can be 6 points up on them with a win. The Pens and Islanders play one another tonight so the Caps just need to hope for no overtime game and it will be a good night.


*Gametime 8 p.m on CSN-Plus and NHL Network