GDT: GM#3: Dallas @ DC - 7pm-ish

[stephenball]

I think it was Lapierre’s best game so far. Which isn’t saying much, because he’s had a rough start, but he looked better today.

Also PLD’s best game. Nice little one touch pass on Wilson’s goal, but he was pretty close to having a few more assists tonight, his passing and vision looked great. That line is really starting to gel, and McMichael has been looking great so far.

Chychrun is a massive add for this team. Having him really fills out our D-core, and his speed and creativity on the back end really contributes to our transition game.

 

[Praetorian Caps]

Missed game because I had to be at work and run some errands, afterwards, but Capitals won so I'm good!

 

[um]

There's no reason we can't be the third best team in the division.

You aim too low friend.

 

[stephenball]

Ovechkin does look much better than he looked last year.

 

[notDkristich]

small sample size says we are 100% better than last year. ez money says we place 3rd-4th in conference.

pp still sucks. Carlson to pp2, Chychrun to pp1

 

[Kalopsia]

Is it too early to call the rebuild of the "4th" line a success? In about 30 minutes together at even strength Duhaime, Dowd, and Raddysh have a 75 xGF% while getting only 13% offensive zone draws. None of them have been on ice for a goal against at even strength yet. Can't ask for much more than that.

 

[SherVaughn30]

Starting to really like this second line

You have CMM and Wilson to take the pressure off PLD, who is not known for his back-checking. Somehow it's working right in the early going. The only thing is I want PLD to put up points, so I can rub it into the Kings fans on their message board.

 

[Rayquaza64]

i think one thing that’s a big improvement is that the caps have a line (mcm-dubois-wilson) that can provide a big moment offensively that our coach trusts to go against a team’s top lines vs in previous years where a dowd line would be eating the minutes against top lines basically playing prevent

 

[RedRocking]

Top line Protas is looking like a solid move. He’s great as F1, hustling and using that big frame to crash the boards and win puck battles.

And he’s got decent awareness and vision to get the puck to Strome/Ovi in good spots to make plays and shoot.

 

[msrulo]

I also liked Protas's game.

 

[alphabetical]

Protas is really gelling on the top line. I love the looks he's getting and setting up out there.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Even though they were all home games, you have to be pretty impressed with the start so far that was some tough competition

 

[ovikovy817]

Nice W. Who's the next unbeaten team on our road?

 

[trick9]

Very nice win.

Team looks pretty impressive, hanging on with the top teams. Love the new top D pairing and the D in general is looking ridiculously good when Matt Roy comes back. Think we might see Alexeyev too in the next game, McIlrath didn't play too much after taking that penalty.

 

[Marshall]

Lloyd?

 

[Ridley Simon]

“Top Line Tommy” is back (even if he’s technically playing on the 2nd line).

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Lloyd?

 

[Midnight Judges]

That's a good win.

PLD is a pretty slick skater on the zone entries.

McMichael appears to have taken a step forward. That steal he had was magnificent - prevented a very high danger opportunity.

That said, the Stars seems to be the better team, creating more changes, more high danger chances, and better with puck possession.

Locker's homerism is getting over the top. The call against Dowd was legit IMO. He latched onto a guy and dragged him to the ice. That is a textbook interference call.

 

[pman25]

^yeah Nic Dowd loves taking penalties and they are usually pretty obvious. Not sure what Laughlin was seeing there.