Fifth Avenue Forum

We're all used to Geno doing dumb **** with the puck every once in a while. He makes up for it tenfold with his game. Not at all worried about putting him right back into the lineup and on PP1. Not one second.

If Geno comes back and we lose any of our next three, you better believe he's getting all the blame...

yup

They lost the last game because they were preparing for his return

Geno back fires me the **** up. WOOOOOOOOOO!!!

So, ERod - Geno - KK?

I feel like this is a bit of a tradition where we go on a big run to take the division lead for a day or 2 and then lose a bunch of games as it fades out of reach for good. I really think this has happened 3 years in a row. Or 3/4? Maybe I’m imagining.

But I also expect our little run to end. And not because of Geno, but because the rest of the guys lose a bit of focus because he’s back and it’s a grind.

It's all about the next two games.

So, ERod - Geno - KK?

McCann out?

So, ERod - Geno - KK?

McCann out?

Break up the Carter line? I don't know. What would @mikey do?

59-87-17
19-71-42
16-77-67/9
12-53-18/9

I'm resigned to the idea that Crotch will be in the lineup, at least until Tanev comes back...Angello isn't on the roster right now and I think Gaudreau is still hurt...so I assume Crotch plays 3rd line and the big Czech won't play...I also think the coaching staff favors Sceviour over Lafferty, I'd rotate them, I don't think that's a lock...

I’d be fine with those lines. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see both Malkin and Gaudreau return to the lineup tonight.

If I'm a coach and I have Gaudreau and Malkin available to me again, I go to a veteran in Carter and ask him how he feels there, from a hockey perspective from a physique perspective, and just have a feedback exchange with him...I want him there as a fan, because he has about four trillion games of NHL experience managing all that ice...but I go to him and ask if he wants a break there until the playoffs or if he wants to try something...I think that's a conversation...doesn't have to be had tonight...

Oh man...maybe this is when the caps finally experience an injury issue at a bad time. So sad.

How very unfortunate.

Pell reported on her Tweeter later in the day that Grape Ape is out tonite. Now if we can just get Wilson a shredded ACL...

If I'm a coach and I have Gaudreau and Malkin available to me again, I go to a veteran in Carter and ask him how he feels there, from a hockey perspective from a physique perspective, and just have a feedback exchange with him...I want him there as a fan, because he has about four trillion games of NHL experience managing all that ice...but I go to him and ask if he wants a break there until the playoffs or if he wants to try something...I think that's a conversation...doesn't have to be had tonight...

I agree with this. Save some unnecessary miles. Carter takes his center position serious. You can tell he knows he’s smarter than 95% of centers he lines up against. I’m curious what his response would be to this.

19-71-24 is the correct 2nd line.

Would not hate moving Carter to wing for a bit to get Freddy in the lineup regularly.
Maybe try

16-53-77
12-11-9

If erod is healthy I don't see how he hasn't earned that last spot over any of the other options.

I'd really much rather have Angello on the 4th if he's healthy

But if we get Tanev back, we've got good problems to solve

I'd really much rather have Angello on the 4th if he's healthy

Over ERod?

Hell **** yes over Rodriguez.

Yeah, that's a gimme. With AA, you get a big body who can really derail some guys and a don't-mess-around shooter who can score from mid-range. So you get the shot and the physicality. With Crotch, you get a faster player, of course. But with such little hockey sense, he isn't fast enough to account for where he actually should be until it's too late to make an impact. And then, too, he has very little finish, he constantly dicks around with the puck, and has no vision for when he does hold it.

If I'm going to have two relatively forgettable players to choose from, I'll take the one that at least checks off a box...

You could actually argue that it's Gaudreau who takes Crotch's spot in the lineup because he's a smaller guy, not even very fast but is very efficient and much more skilled. So even if you needed someone with a little extra offense in the bottom of the lineup, it's Gaudreau and Angello and not 9. 9 made a little more sense, maybe, when it was the top six that needed help. He could be soft up there and try to get pucks for guys and try to get open and all...but now we're talking about a different slot in the lineup, and it's one that he's even less equipped for...