Ovechkin Hat Trick Bests Nashville

Alex Ovechkin turned in a stellar performance tonight with a hat trick to lift the Washington Capitals to sudden-death victory over the Nashville Predators.

After skating a great first period that saw Alex Ovechkin score twice, the Washington Capitals fell flat for two periods. Nashville evened the score in the second period and skated to a two-all draw through overtime and into the shoot-out.

Capitals Winger Mike Knuble summed it up this way, “When we had them up 2-0 we let them hang around too long and that’s when teams are kind of dangerous. We had trouble, took some penalties, which takes guys off the ice and gets them out of sync. Next thing you know they score and they’re back in the game. It almost came back to bite us.”

In the shoot-out the Predators were shut-out by Washington goalie Semyon Varlamov, while Ovechkin’s third goal sealed the victory for Washington.

Goalie Simyon Varlamov of the Washington Capitals makes a diving save in a shootout.

After a four-game winless streak that ended on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Washington was looking to capture some momentum in tonight’s solitary match-up between Washington and Nashville. The Caps have now improved to a 4-2-2 record.

Coming into tonight’s game Alex Ovechkin already led the NHL leader in points (14), goals (7) and shots (55). After tonight’s performance by the Alex improved those stats with 16 points, 10 goals, and 61 shots.

“Best Player In The World”

“He’s (Ovechkin) is obviously the best player in the world. He made some great goals tonight and the shootout goal is just kind of icing on the cake for him. He had a great night,” said Predators Goaltender Dan Ellis. “He’s a dangerous player and he gets his goals whether you got three guys on him or five guys on him, it doesn’t matter, he finds a way and that’s what makes him the best player in the world.”

For more photos from tonight’s game click on the image below to view a slideshow.

WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 29: Brooks Laich tries unsuccessfully to earn Washington a goal in the first period. The three regulation goals were scored by Kozlov, Steckel and Semin. The Capitals out shot the Predators 32 to 26. (Photo by Kate McGovern/OffWingPhoto.com)