Ethen Frank scored his first NHL goal to break a 1-1 tie in the third period and the visiting Washington Capitals went on to defeat the Nashville Predators 4-1 on Saturday night.
Alex Ovechkin scored an empty-net goal with 59 seconds remaining in the third to move within 21 goals of matching Wayne Gretzky (894) for the most in league history. With his marker on Saturday, Ovechkin joined Gordie Howe (22 seasons) as the only players in NHL history to score at least 20 goals in 20 consecutive seasons.
Frank, who had an assist in his NHL debut on Friday, took a stretch pass from Matt Roy, got behind the defense and slid the puck between the pads of Juuse Saros to give the Capitals a 2-1 lead at 8:30 of the third period.
Tom Wilson and Andrew Mangiapane also scored for the Capitals, who were playing the second leg of a back-to-back after a 3-2 overtime loss to the visiting Montreal Canadiens on Friday. Logan Thompson made 32 saves for Washington on Saturday.
Filip Forsberg scored for the Predators, who have dropped two straight games and were opening a five-game homestand. Saros allowed three goals on 15 shots.
Mangiapane made it 3-1 Capitals at 14:54 of the third, scoring on a backhand shot from the low slot off a pass from Brandon Duhaime behind the net.
Wilson gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 9:03 of the second period. Ovechkin passed to Dylan Strome behind the net, and Strome fed the puck to Wilson, who slid it past Saros.
Moments later, Thompson robbed Jonathan Marchessault on a two-on-one rush to maintain Washington’s 1-0 lead.
Forsberg tied the score at 16:14 when he took a pass from Marchessault on the rush, skated along the boards and cut into the right circle before beating Thompson far side.
Roman Josi also assisted on the goal, giving him 20 helpers for the 12th consecutive season.
Nashville outshot Washington 33-16 for the game.
–Field Level Media
