GDT: Capitals and Isles | 1/16/23 | 7:30p ET

[Langway]

Johansson at center means they can trade Kuz and still roll three solid scoring lines.

 

[DWGie26]

Makes sense you wouldn’t bring Wilson and Backy into the lineup and have them play on the same line to start. Got three games, and then tonight put people that work well together like OV-Strome-Sheary. Now we have a third line that is a huge improvement from a month ago.

 

[Rayquaza64]

having 19 when he can actually skate and isnt dying of pain is massive

 

[Monsterrain]

I had my doubts about kemper but man has he been good! Eller absolutely will slide in for dowd.

 

[ClevelandCapsfan]

having 19 when he can actually skate and isnt dying of pain is massive

How do we know he isn’t playing in pain?

 

[Calicaps]

How do we know he isn’t playing in pain?

he's said repeatedly that he's so happy to finally not be in pain.

 

[SkinsFan09]

Wow you go back to the lines (aisde from Milano and Mantha swap) that went 12-1-2 and after a period of remembering why this worked in the first place they skate circles around the Islanders.

Who would've thought...

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

he's said repeatedly that he's so happy to finally not be in pain.

 

[ovikovy817]

After the 1st goal I decided to watch the score to end this quickly because I thought it would be another L.
When I saw 4-3 I was surprised. When I saw that we comeback from 3-0 I was pleased.

 

[Fred22406Capsfan]

Read through the Isles game day thread. In summary: Refs, refs, refs, f Washington, man our GM sucks, our team is soft, etc. There's a lot of loathing over there!

 

[g00n]

How do we know he isn’t playing in pain?

How do I know you're not really a talking muffin?

 

[Midnight Judges]

Wow you go back to the lines (aisde from Milano and Mantha swap) that went 12-1-2 and after a period of remembering why this worked in the first place they skate circles around the Islanders.

Who would've thought...

Uh, pretty much everyone on this message board?

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Read through the Isles game day thread. In summary: Refs, refs, refs, f Washington, man our GM sucks, our team is soft, etc. There's a lot of loathing over there!

I can't imagine the thread here when we were down 3-0 last night was any better.

 

[ClevelandCapsfan]

How do I know you're not really a talking muffin?

 

[Marshall]

Warned the Caps that if they were down by two at any point I'd switch to the football game. When they were down two, I did so. When I saw they were getting back in the game?

Nothing.

I did nothing.

And I'll do it again.

 

[CapsCrazyX17]

Read through the Isles game day thread. In summary: Refs, refs, refs, f Washington, man our GM sucks, our team is soft, etc. There's a lot of loathing over there!

My favorite is everyone whining and complaining about how nobody on their team stepped up after the Ovi hit on Pageau and that the refs were ignoring dangerous hits and that they wish someone had lined up one of the Caps in retaliation... completely ignoring the fact that one of their guys knocked Dowd out of the game on a very similar hit along the boards earlier in the game (which was also a non-call)

 

[Neil Racki]

Dang Dowd got hurt. That guy is all hustle out there. He does a lot of things right out there.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

My favorite is everyone whining and complaining about how nobody on their team stepped up after the Ovi hit on Pageau and that the refs were ignoring dangerous hits and that they wish someone had lined up one of the Caps in retaliation... completely ignoring the fact that one of their guys knocked Dowd out of the game on a very similar hit along the boards earlier in the game (which was also a non-call)

I didn’t see anything wrong with the hit on Dowd…..bad luck he got dinged.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Dang Dowd got hurt. That guy is all hustle out there. He does a lot of things right out there.

Yeah he's been great. Pacing for 20 ish goals as a 4C. Dude is using his opportunities.

 

[SkinsFan09]

Uh, pretty much everyone on this message board?

I wasn't trying to take personal credit - in fact it's sad that everyone here and about 80% of Caps Twitter that isn't stuck in 2018 understood.

I cannot have fans out-strategizing professional coaches. Keep it simple Lavi, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Yeah he's been great. Pacing for 20 ish goals as a 4C. Dude is using his opportunities.

He’s shooting 25% on the season which obviously is going to come down but yeah, he’s been terrific. Pretty easily one of the top five 4Cs in the league.

 

[DWGie26]

Assume this thread will shut down shortly. But just on last night, the hits led to more physical play and the dirty goal by Hathaway.

But then last half of the game, we were finally moving the puck with speed. Some of that is familiarity and knowing where your linemates are going to be. But the speed and pressure intensified greatly. Hope we can build on that tonight.

also, I mentioned this before, but Lavi really had to put Wilson and Backstrom on different lines to get them going. Can’t have two guys coming back from injury on the same line. Now they have found their skating and playing legs, and it made sense to put them together and reunite other lines playing well previously. Really loved That third line. Much better than third line we were icing previously even during our win streak.

 

[Capsman]

When we depend on ANYTHINGM Blaine Forsythe runs we are toast. We have probably the least dangerous 6 on 5 to go along with our bottom half PP. Can anyone even remember the last 6 on 5 dangerous opportunity we’ve had (forget a goal)?