Just when you thought you might have a small break from a stressful Capitals and Blue Jackets game, you thought wrong! The Capitals are still in Columbus for Game Four and, personally, I feel like I have aged 60 years in the span of a week. The main thing to keep a look out for, other than the usual “don’t trust a two goal lead”, are the little line changes that Coach Barry Trotz has been making. Most notably? Jakub Vrana has been bumped down to the fourth line, which has left a space for Chandler Stephenson to climb into. Everyone has been very rational about it. That is a lie, no they haven’t. It’s the playoffs and everything is dramatic.
I am entirely too old to be staying up through a double overtime, so let’s hope the Washington boys can close this one out in regulation.
Puck drop tonight is a tad after 7:30 PM and you can watch it…on USA. Home of Patrick Holden’s favorite show, “Suits”. Stay tuned for, what is sure to be, a fabulous recap from Brendan (and you have me on twitter. Apologies in advance).
The final regular season stats:
 |
 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Record | 45-30-7 | 49-26-7 |
| Shot Attempt % | 51.7% | 48.3% |
| PDO | 100.3 | 101.7 |
| Power Play | 17.2% | 22.5% |
| Penalty Kill | 76.2% | 80.3% |
Projected Lines
Okay, so yes, there are some changes. Travis Boyd was in because TJ Oshie had another maintenance day. Oshie is confirmed to be in tonight. Coach Barry Trotz also moved Jakub Vrana to the fourth line and brought Chandler Stephenson up. Apparently, Barry doesn’t want us to read too much into it. Of course, twitter was very calm in their reaction and didn’t read anything into it (*heavy sarcasm*). Thanks, as always, to Isabelle Khurshudyan at the Washington Post:
Ovechkin – Kuznetsov – Wilson
Stephenson – Backstrom – Boyd/Osh
Connolly – Eller – DSP
Vrana – Beagle – Chiasson
Kempny – Carlson
Orlov – Niskanen
Orpik – Djoos
Holtby 🙂
Don’t Jinx It
I’m not going to say anything. Just casually dropping this in…
For the third time in four years the Capitals trail 2-1 in their first- round series needing Game 4 on the road. Washington won the previous two.
— Ted Starkey (@TedStarkey) April 19, 2018
Storylines
- The Vegas Golden Nat- I mean, Knights? They look absolutely unstoppable, especially after the just swept the LA Kings in round one…
- Another series about to wrap up? The Flyers and the Penguins where, for some reason, every game is just an absurd amount of goals? Guess who is winning? You don’t need me to tell you.
- Personally, I am still trying to catch up on sleep from jet lag and the double overtime game. If you were being responsible and went to bed instead, check out the morning after numbers from Pat!
- Caps alum Viktor Kozlov has just been named “Senior Coach” of Metallurg Magnitogorsk. поздравления (I think…I’m still working on it…)!
- Despite all the Washington Wizards drama, the bright shining light is Kelly Oubre Jr. who sported a Capitals jersey the other night! We need to protect him.
- Lars Eller was pretty stoked about his 2OTGWG, which made him the fifth Capitals player to ever do it. He said, “It’s the best feeling. Yeah. The best.” *brushes away proud tears*
- Your Game Five details have arrived!
- The little girl that got the Brett Connolly puck? She was ‘really happy’ she got one. Plus she’s adorable AND Connolly stuck up for her! Be still, my heart.
- Bryce “Benedict Arnold” Harper. SMH.
- The New Jersey Devils scoreboard continues to slay.
A quick moment for Leni
This morning, Lauren Oshie posted an instagram story of baby Leni Oshie jumping and screaming after she was asked for a snack. I invite you all to look through my twitter moment as a reminder who our true national treasure is.
Headline image: NHL.com
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