Cole Hutson scores twice as Capitals edge Predators 4-3 in Nashville

NASHVILLE — Cole Hutson scored twice and the Washington Capitals beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday night, improving to 8-4-0 on the season.

Boone Jenner and Alex Tuch also scored for Washington, which led 3-2 after two periods. Each team scored once in the third. The Capitals outshot the Predators 29-27, and Charlie Lindgren made 24 saves in the win.

Washington scored once in the first period, twice in the second and once in the third. Nashville scored a goal in each period.

Hutson leads the way

Hutson, a defenseman, finished with two goals, two shots on net and a plus-2 rating in 18:26 of ice time. His two goals gave him four on the season.

Tuch's goal was his 10th of the year, and Jenner's was his fifth. Aliaksei Protas and Jack St. Ivany each picked up two assists, while Pierre-Luc Dubois, Jordan Kyrou, Jakob Chychrun and Martin Fehervary added one apiece.

Tom Wilson and Protas logged the most ice time among Capitals forwards at 19:43 and 19:33, respectively, and both finished plus-2. Matt Roy led all Washington skaters at 23:07, with Chychrun at 22:30.

Alex Ovechkin put three shots on goal in 10:56 of ice time but was held off the scoresheet.

Rookie forward Ilya Protas skated 11:37, won four of seven faceoffs and put one shot on net.

Forsberg, Josi carry Nashville

Filip Forsberg scored twice for the Predators and Ross Colton added a goal. Roman Josi had three assists and led the game with six shots. Ryan O'Reilly and Adam Edstrom each had an assist.

Juuse Saros stopped 25 of 29 shots in 57:57 of work for Nashville, which dropped to 4-4-5.

The Predators went 1-for-3 on the power play, while Washington came up empty on its two chances. Nashville also controlled the faceoff circle, winning 33 of 56 draws (58.9 percent). O'Reilly went 11-for-15 and Steven Stamkos 7-for-9, while Jenner (3-for-14) and Dubois (4-for-13) struggled for the Capitals.

Washington out-hit Nashville 23-17, and both teams finished with nine blocked shots and 17 giveaways. Kyrou was charged with six of the Capitals' giveaways.

Washington took three minor penalties, one each by Chychrun, Fehervary and Timothy Liljegren. Lindgren made five saves while shorthanded.

Up next

The win moved the Capitals to 2-2-0 on the road and 16 points, second in the Metropolitan Division behind Carolina's 24 and level on points with New Jersey and the New York Islanders.

Washington returns home to face the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. ET. Minnesota sits atop the Central Division with 21 points.

Attendance on Thursday was announced at 17,159.