The Washington Capitals had a lead late in the third period, and were less than five minutes away from getting a win for their head coach, Barry Trotz, in his emotional return to Nashville.
But the Predators, in their home building, played the spoiler.
They scored twice - on goals from Mattias Ekholm and James Neal - in the final 4:29 of regulation to hand the surging Capitals a 4-3 loss.
Trotz, in his first year behind the Capitals’ bench, spent 15 years as the head coach in Nashville. He received a warm standing ovation from the fans at Friday’s game, and looked emotionally moved by the video tribute that played during a stoppage in play during the first period.
“I had some butterflies going out there,” Trotz said, as per CSN Washington. “I had a lot of good memories out there.”
The Capitals have only lost twice in eight games this month. Alex Ovechkin scored twice and is up to 24 goals on the season.