Washington closes out the road portion of its seven-game pre-season slate on Wednesday night when it pays a visit to Music City for a contest against the Nashville Predators. The Caps and Predators clashed last Tuesday in Washington’s pre-season opener, the 2011 Baltimore Hockey Classic at First Mariner Arena in Charm City. Nashville skated off with a 2-0 win in that game.

The Caps come into Wednesday’s game with a 1-2-1 mark to date in the pre-season. After dropping each of their first three exhibition decisions (0-2-1), the Capitals finally put together a strong 60-minute effort on Monday in their home pre-season opener against Columbus. The result was a convincing 3-1 win over the Blue Jackets. Only some strong netminding from veteran journeyman Curtis Sanford kept it that close.

Chris Bourque had three assists against Columbus while linemates Cody eakin and Mathieu Perreault each chipped in with a goal. Along with Jay Beagle, D.J. King and Mattias Sjostrom, the trio comprises half of the six forwards who are competing for a maximum of three remaining roster spots on Washington’s opening night roster.

There is a good chance that all six of those forwards will be making the trip to Nashville on Wednesday.

Nashville is 4-1 in the 2011 pre-season and the Predators have won three straight games.

Former Caps forward Kyle Wilson is one of 19 forwards still on the Predators’ training camp roster and ex-Caps blueliner Tyler Sloan is one of 11 blueliners still vying for an opening night roster berth.

Once Wednesday night’s game in Nashville is in the rear view mirror, the Caps will be able to settle in at home in the District for a couple weeks. Washington closes out the pre-season by hosting Buffalo on Friday and Chicago on Sunday. The Caps don’t play on the road again until they make their first regular season road journey, a one-game jaunt to Pittsburgh on Oct. 12.