The Nashville Predators had a 1-0 win over Calgary Friday, preventing the Flames from going clear top of the NHL's Northwest Division. Patric Hornqvist scored the sole goal with 6:22 left, and Dan Ellis made 22 saves for his first shutout of the season for Nashville. Steve Sullivan set up the goal, gaining control behind the net and feeding Hornqvist at the edge of the crease. Hornqvist knocked the puck past Miikka Kiprusoff for his team-high 19th goal of the season and six in as many games. The Predators have won three straight - sweeping their Western Canada swing - while the Flames have lost three on the trot. Capitals 6, Maple Leafs 1: In Washington, Alex Ovechkin had a goal and a career-high four assists as Washington thumped Toronto. Mike Knuble scored twice, and Jose Theodore made 28 saves for the Capitals, who stretched their Southeast Division lead to 17 points. The five points were a season high for Ovechkin. He scored his 29th goal with only 49 seconds elapsed to get the Capitals off to a quick start in their third game in four nights, then assisted on Washington's next four goals. Both of Knuble's goals came in the second period, boosting the Capitals' lead to 4-0. He has five goals in his past five games. Eric Fehr, Tomas Fleischmann and Tom Poti also scored for Washington. Tomas Kaberle had a power-play goal for the Maple Leafs, who have lost five of six overall and five straight on the road.
