The goal was Semin at his finest, as the Capitals winger put a beautiful wrist shot on net for his 7th goal of the season. Marcus Johannson came across the middle and dropped the puck off for Semin, who ripped as good a wrister as you will see, up and over the left shoulder and glove hand of Anders Lindback.
Troy Brouwer would add a power play goal down low a little over three minutes later to make it 4-1. It was Brouwer's first goal in five games, but his second of the season against the Preds.
It was likely the Caps' finest performance since coach Dale Hunter took over. In addition to Semin, the Caps other two offensive stars, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, found the back of the net to build the 2-0 first period lead. Ovechkin notched his 11th of the season on a hard charging breakaway to tie Backstrom for the team lead. Nicklas, however, would take it right back with his 12th of the season later in the first. It was a pure hustle play as Backstrom worked behind the net and maintained control on a wrap around to beat Lindback.
In Mike Knuble's 1,000 NHL game, all the stars came through for the Caps in an all-around great night at Verizon Center. They will look to build the momentum on Friday night in Newark against the New Jersey Devils.
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The Washington Capitals bounced back from their weekend loss to Colorado with a convincing win over the Nashville Predators at the Verizon Center. All the stars got involved on Tuesday night as Washington improved to 17-14-1.
Enjoying a two goal lead heading into the third period, the Caps withstood an early Nashville goal to cruise to a three goal win. Sergei Kostitsyn ended Michael Neuvirth's shutout less than five minutes into the third period. But Alexander Semin would extend it yet again to a two goal Washington lead.