Caps carry ‘ desperation-mode’ mindset into clash vs. Predators

The Washington Capitals are aware of the importance of Thursday night's home game against the Nashville Predators.

Heading into the final game before the Olympic break, the Capitals -- who ran away with the Metropolitan Division title last season -- are a half-dozen points outside of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"We're in desperation mode. We have been for a bit," Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. "It's tight in the division, in the conference. ... You come out of break and there's only (23) games left in the whole season. We're going to need to go on a significant run here, and we'll finish off the right way, or try to do everything we can to finish the right way against Nashville."

The Capitals return home after a 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. The match was tied before the Flyers scored on a power play with 5:23 remaining to help snap Washington's three-game winning streak.

"It was an unfortunate result," Capitals defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk said. "Obviously, didn't have our best, but back-to-back, sometimes that's going to be the case. I thought we worked hard, did the right things to kind of put ourselves in a decent spot there."

With their top two goaltenders out due to injury, the Capitals received a third consecutive strong outing from Clay Stevenson, who tended the net on consecutive nights.

Carbery said recently the club expected Logan Thompson to be back in action after missing the past four games due to an upper-body injury.

Thompson is slated to be part of Canada's entry at the Winter Olympics.

The Predators are just as desperate for a win in their last skate before the break. Due to a 6-5 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, Nashville is four points out of a playoff position in the Western Conference.

"We've got three periods left," Predators forward Luke Evangelista said. "These points matter more to us than anyone in the league, and we know that. We know the position we're in. We've just got to give it our all for three more periods and find a way to scratch out two points."

Even though they lost at home against the Wild, the Predators have plenty more to build on. They erased deficits on three occasions, showing the same determination that helped them claw back into the playoff chase.

Nashville, which was at the bottom of the league standings on Dec. 8, is 6-3-3 in its last dozen games.

There are myriad reasons for the turnaround, such as improved play from goaltender Juuse Saros and a variety of forwards, such as Filip Forsberg, who has scored five times in a four-game streak.

Also key is the play of captain Roman Josi, who scored once and added an assist against Minnesota, giving him eight points (two goals, six assists) in a three-game streak.

"I just feel more comfortable out there and (am) just kind of playing my game," Josi said. "When I play my best, it's not just offensively. I think I'm skating, I'm playing with a lot of energy."