As Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz watched film of the Washington Capitals, his thoughts immediately drifted back nearly seven years to when his NHL team was struggling through its first season as an expansion club.
“Washington is headed in the right direction in terms of creating a culture. The guys have a good work ethic, and the coaching staff is doing a real good job,” Trotz said. “We’re glad to get out of here with two points.”
Nashville scored on half its six power-play chances on the road, while the Caps converted just once in 10 tries at home, and the Predators went on to a 5-2 victory. It was a homecoming of sorts for Trotz, who coached in the Caps’ farm system for years and is the only coach in Predators history.
The Predators beat Washington by playing a patient brand of hockey, the system Trotz has used since the team debuted in 1998-99. It is a club dedicated to discipline, quickness and precision and tape-to-tape passing. It banks on the fact it can catch an opponent leaning in the wrong direction for just a second, just long enough to slip a puck in the goal.
It used that discipline last night to kill a 78-second two-man disadvantage early in the game and used the same discipline and execution to score while owning a two-man advantage midway through the third. Washington’s improving penalty-killing did not come through, while its power play failed miserably. Nashville, one of the leaders in the Western Conference, had a lot to do with that.
Trotz has seen it all before.
“When I saw them on film, I saw the same work ethic and culture that we developed as an expansion team,” he said. “You don’t match up some nights talent-wise, but they really don’t quit, and that’s something that is a learned skill. Work is a learned skill, and they’re learning that. They’ve got some good young players they’re developing — Steve Eminger and Alex Ovechkin are some — and those are great building blocks.
“You’ve got a guy like Olie [Kolzig], and he’s a Cap through and through. I talked to him this morning, and he’s very excited about what the Caps have going on in terms of rebuilding. They’ve got some real good pieces in the fold, and when they develop they’re going to be a good team.”
Nashville bolted to a 2-0 lead, scoring a pair of power-play goals with military precision. The Caps got to within one goal twice — when Ovechkin scored his 17th of the season and Ben Clymer chipped in with another — but could not bridge the gap the Predators had opened.
The highlight of the night for Caps watchers was at 9:56 of the second, when Kolzig stopped the eighth of the nine penalty shots he has faced in his career.
Notes — The Predators went with Chris Mason in goal because they were saving starter Tomas Vokoun for the New York Rangers at home tonight. … With right wing Stephen Peat in Hershey and off injured reserve, the Caps had only one medical scratch last night: left wing Jeff Friesen, who now has missed 13 straight games with a groin injury. Healthy scratches were defensemen Nolan Yonkman and Mathieu Biron. … The annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots drive is tomorrow night with Detroit coming to town. Fans may bring a new, unwrapped gift to MCI Center.
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