It's the first game back after...let's call it two consecutive road trips for the Nashville Predators, since Laviolette did. That stop home between Columbus and Carolina might have been a mistake.
The Capitals are coming off a two-game losing streak of their own: an OT loss to the Blue Jackets (sounds familiar) on a goal scored by Artemi Panarin from Seth Jones (sounds reeeeal familiar), followed by a blowout loss to a non-playoff team that should be better—in the Capitals' case, to the St. Louis Blues. The Caps played last night, which means they'll be tired for the current matchup, but the Predators should still be careful not to underestimate them.