Washington 4, Nashville 1

Nicklas Backstrom recorded a goal and an assist and Michal Neuvirth made 20 saves as the Washington Capitals matched their scoring total from the previous three games in a 4-1 triumph over the visiting Nashville Predators on Tuesday.

Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Troy Bouwer each scored and Marcus Johansson added a pair of assists as the Capitals snapped the Predators’ five-game winning streak.

Backstrom scored the game-winner with 4:09 left in the first period.

Nashville goaltender Anders Lindback tried to clear a puck with his stick but sent it right to Backstrom, who kept control as he absorbed a hit and circled behind the net before wrapping it around for his 12th tally.

The Predators got one back on Sergei Kostitsyn’s tally at the 4:40 mark of the third, but Semin buried a wrister with 9:39 left and Brouwer put it away when he redirected Dennis Wideman’s slap shot on the power play 3:25 later.

Ovechkin showed a flash of his star form on his first-period tally, using a referee to screen himself for a pass and then winning a race to the net for his 11th goal.

• Washington will play their next game on the road against Washington . The Capitals have a W/L % of .588 after a win and .467 after a loss.
• Nashville will play their next game at home against Columbus . The Predators have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .533 after a loss.