Tonight at 7:15 PM in Verizon Center, our Washington Capitals will fight for their playoff lives. Backs against the wall, do or die, crap or get off the pot — choose your idiom; they all work.

I don’t have much to say. Talk is cheap, get pucks deep. Scoar moar goals. Crash the net.

The Penguins lead the series 3-1. I don’t want to write about breakdown day on Monday.

Projected Lineup

Barry Trotz has shaken up the lines. Nate Schmidt is back in action. (Presuming Richards and Alzner are both healthy and ready to play.)

Ovechkin – Kuznetsov – Oshie
Burakovsky – Backstrom – Johansson
Chimera – Beagle – Williams
Winnik – Richards – Wilson

Alzner – Niskanen
Orlov – Carlson
Schmidt– Chorney

Holtby

Pat?

Hello, it’s Pat. Peter drafted up the pregame and left the above “Pat?” as a cue for me to add something in here. He was likely anticipating I’d change the header but I’m going to leave that.

How’s everyone taking in the game tonight?

I’m going to drive out to Frederick and watch at Peter’s. Georgia will be there and probably his doctor girlfriend, too. I’m going to bring some Union Old Pro to enjoy. I’m also going to wear my moccasins. Why? Because, when I wear moccasins, my chill vibe feels impenetrable. I will need all of the chill tonight.

May the PDO be ever in our favor.

[Ed. note: Hahaha – P]

Storylines

• That’s your TKO line and your Tre Kronor line in the Caps top six. Barry is pulling out all the stops for the elimination game.
• The series has been crazy and distressing, but Spenser named five reasons why the Caps can still win. And I named one big reason why they haven’t won so far.
• Braden Holtby, who has been excellent, is a finalist for the Ted Linday. Barry Trotz, who scratched Nate Schmidt for Mike Weber but is otherwise wonderful, is a finalist of the Jack Adams.
• Our own Chris Gordon was published in the NYT today! How cool is that.
• ESPN and Michael Wilbon are already. sharpening their teeth.

Many more links compiled by Emily over at Japers Rink.

Peter’s Spoiler-Free Captain America: Civil War Review

The original Civil War comic book was very bad (beautiful art by Steve McNiven excepted), but I guess it had a few good character moments. The film adaptation for the MCU is a remarkable accomplishment for amping up the resonance of those characters while jettisoning all the cruelty of the source material.

It doesn’t all work. Even if you buy the characters’ motivations and perspectives (I did), the movie wrestles unsuccessfully with the mechanics of its plot. Moments of levity don’t always land, and one actor in particular didn’t feel like he was acting in the same movie as the others.

But Spider-Man is in it, and he’s the best realized Spidey I’ve seen in a movie. I loved every second he was on screen.

The film’s final act was earned, which isn’t always easy for a superhero flick (hi, Iron Man 2). I have to think that the Russo brothers at some point realized that a political disagreement couldn’t properly fuel the fire of that last fight, so they found something better, something inextricable and essential from the characters themselves.

It’s those characters and not the plot who make the movie worth watching. If you’re in love with them already, you’re going to have a great time.

Closing Words

Sometimes carrying on, just carrying on, is the superhuman achievement.

Albert Camus, on the topic of watching Capitals playoff hockey.

Full RMNB Coverage of Game Five