TLDR: Washington plays Philadelphia at home Wednesday, then flies to Nashville for Thursday's game against a Predators team that has lost 5 times after regulation. The Caps arrive on the second night of a back-to-back, and Nashville has had a day and a half to stew over a blown comeback.
Washington visits Nashville on the second night of a back-to-back, after hosting Philadelphia Wednesday, with Logan Thompson day-to-day and two defensemen on IR. Nashville is rested and healthy but has lost 5 games after regulation, including a blown 3-goal comeback against the Islanders in a shootout. Washington's goalie choice and how the Caps handle their first road game since the homestand will decide it.
Nashville's last game told you most of what you need to know about them so far. The Islanders scored the first 3 goals at Bridgestone Arena, the Predators scored 2 in the 2nd and tied it in the 3rd, and then they lost in a shootout anyway. New York hadn't won in Nashville since 2017, and Semyon Varlamov got his first official win in nearly 2 years. That's a 4-3-5 team in one night: good enough to come back, not good enough to finish.
Washington's week is the bigger variable. The Caps wrap a 5-game homestand against the Flyers on Wednesday, then travel straight to Nashville for the back half of the back-to-back. Logan Thompson is still day-to-day with the lower-body injury he picked up against Los Angeles. He was back at practice Monday but left after about 45 minutes, and Spencer Carbery wouldn't commit beyond "continuing to progress." Charlie Lindgren and recalled prospect Mitch Gibson are the other options, so who starts in Nashville probably depends on what happens against Philly. No board is posted for this game yet, and with Washington playing first, it shouldn't be.
The Wednesday result will also decide which version of the Caps shows up. As of now they're 6-4-0, and they beat Buffalo 4-3 in overtime the night Thompson sat. Their losses have been lopsided, though: 4-2 at Carolina and 5-2 at home to the Kings. Two games in 2 nights in 2 cities is when a team that has only been decent shows it.
Nashville's form is all over the place. The Predators got shut out 6-0 in Boston, lost by a goal in Pittsburgh, then came home and put 6 on Colorado. Five of their 12 games have gone to overtime or a shootout, which explains the record better than anything else. They aren't getting blown out often, but they keep giving away the second point. At home against a tired opponent, a team that keeps games close should be able to close one out. Whether this one can is the open question.
Washington's blue line is where injuries hurt most. Rasmus Sandin is on long-term IR with a knee injury and Vincent Desharnais is on IR, so Jack St. Ivany, claimed off waivers from Winnipeg, has been skating on the third pair with Cole Hutson. Jakob Chychrun took a maintenance day Monday, and Carbery expects him back for both games. Nashville lists nobody, so the Predators are the only full lineup in this game. Puck drop is 7:00 PM CT on Thursday, October 29.
Capitals vs. Predators: Polymarket Odds & Prediction (Oct. 29) — Capitals Finish a Back-to-Back in Nashville Against Volatile Predators
