GDT: 12/12/15 - 7:00PM EDT - Washington VS Tampa Bay

[Leonardo87]

Hope is same lines as last game except Vladdy centers Palat & Kuch. That is really all the change that needs to happen...Blunden can fill in on the fourth line as a LW for Boyle.

I would go with..

Palat - Stamkos - Kucherov
Brown - Flip - Callahan
Drouin - Vladdy - Killorn
Blunden - Boyle - JAM.

or if Coop really wanted to be guns blazin...

Drouin - Stamkos - Kucherov
Palat - Flip - Callahan
Brown - Vladdy - Killorn
Blunden - Boyle - JAM.

Killorn and Vladdy have not been playing well the last several games which is why for their reduced ice time, and maybe Brown is the solution for that. But that 3rd line was so good last game.

Most importantly keep Cally and Flip together and I don't mean put them together with Stamkos, God Forbid.

 

[Steazy Doo]

Keep the 1st and 3rd lines the same as last time and move Vlad up with Kucherov and Palat.

 

[Hockeyfan02]

Getting Johnson completely healed should be this teams priority right now. No more rushing back. Make sure the guy is right.

Seemed like Drouin came back a little early from his injury too, didn't look great, and had to miss more time. I know the team has a bit of an uphill climb so they want to get back to help but these guys aren't going to help if they're not right.

 

[Leonardo87]

Keep the 1st and 3rd lines the same as last time and move Vlad up with Kucherov and Palat.

Vladdy has been in Coop's doghouse as of late, played like 8 mins last game and Killorn has generated 1 point in like 6 games since with Stamkos. It's an opportunity to try Kucherov out with Stamkos again, and although would prefer to see Drouin up there rather than Palat, it at least gives us a stronger top line.

I mean if Stamkos cannot look dangerous skating with Kucherov, it's a serious problem. lol.

 

[DFC]

I think we'll see Stamkos-Kuch.

Also, I don't know if I've ever seen a player rush back more often than Tyler Johnson. And he doesn't play particularly well when he's not fully healthy. I know players want to prove their tough etc etc, but it's not smart in the big picture. We're not really the Tampa Bay Lightning without a 100% healthy Tyjo.

 

[dechire]

Just remembering the last Capitals game is traumatic. I'll be going to a Chiefs game about halfway through the game tonight which might just save me from alcohol poisoning

 

[Jacko95]

Keep the 1st and 3rd lines the same as last time and move Vlad up with Kucherov and Palat.

This. If it doesn't work, mix the top 6 around, but give the FCB (sounds good to me, FC Bayern and stuff ) another night.

 

[PaulGG]

So hard when practically every game the line are shuffled . I hope they at least can stick with Cally, Flip and Brown as a line.

 

[FDfranklin]

Saw on Twitter Stamkos was inbetween Palat and Kuch

 

[FinnLightning26]

Saw on Twitter Stamkos was inbetween Palat and Kuch

If he can't produce with those two then we're better off letting him walk in any case.

 

[dechire]

If he can't produce with those two then we're better off letting him walk in any case.

Kucherov will score through individual effort but Stamkos will still pick up an assist on it. Calling it now.

 

[Brie]

And yes, Carle will probably be back in, kind of sad but not surprising how you don't miss him once when he isn't playing

 

[Brie]

Tonights lineup, not bad.

 

[Sky04]

Seemed like Drouin came back a little early from his injury too, didn't look great, and had to miss more time. I know the team has a bit of an uphill climb so they want to get back to help but these guys aren't going to help if they're not right.

He did look great his first game back... making stupid decisions with the puck doesn't mean he's injured, Drouin just isn't able to pull consistency at the NHL level yet.

 

[Stormbreaker]

Ugh the Caps, going be a stiff test can't play like they in the 1st period last game or they'll get run over. This is getting really old with TJ. I don't want to see him til January, stop coming back early!

 

[Brie]

He did look great his first game back... making stupid decisions with the puck doesn't mean he's injured, Drouin just isn't able to pull consistency at the NHL level yet.

I think he meant earlier, he was injured earlier in the season, then came back and then got hurt again before coming back a few games ago, since then he's been great and fully healthy ut he came back to soon the first time and just like with TJ it was a bad idea.

 

[FDfranklin]

Tonights lineup, not bad.

I don't get how Drouin gets demoted but Stamkos doesn't.

 

[Brie]

I don't get how Drouin gets demoted but Stamkos doesn't.

At this point anyone who don't have to play with Stamkos is better off for it however I agree, it's another reason why I'm not sure signing Stamkos is a good idea, because we "need" to play him in the top-6 (well, we really don't but he will anyway) and everyone that might be great players but don't match with him will be playing on lower line (if they get lucky on the 2nd but if TKO comes back then it's bottom-6 for you).

 

[Sky04]

I don't get how Drouin gets demoted but Stamkos doesn't.

Meh not a big deal, I mean you should be trying Stamkos with Palat/Kucherov first if TJ is out.

 

[These Are The Days]

Just win baby

 

[Stormbreaker]

Drouin is scratched tonight, I just don't know anymore.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Special teams is going to be big. I doubt we'll win that battle, but if we can at least cancel out their PP, that should give us a chance.

 

[Brie]

Oh come on Coop

 

[Houdas]

let's go, bolts!

 

[FDfranklin]

Honestly just trade Drouin ffs, never going to get a chance under Cooper.