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GDT#59 Caps at Sabers at 3pm Feb 19

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alta:
Feb. 19 vs. Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center
Time: 3:00 p.m.
TV: NBC Sports Washington
Radio: FAN 106.7, Capitals Radio 24/7

Washington Capitals 33-18-7
Buffalo Sabers 17-31-11

Caps win 3-2, OV-Carlson-Kuzy with goals
OV now at 593 career goals

anticipated lines:
Forwards
Alex Ovechkin-Nicklas Backstrom-Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana-Evgeny Kuznetsov-T.J. Oshie
Brett Connolly-Lars Eller-Andre Burakovsky
Chandler Stephenson-Jay Beagle-Devante Smith-Pelly
Scratched: Alex Chiasson
Defensemen
Dmitry Orlov-Matt Niskanen
Christian Djoos-John Carlson
Brooks Orpik-Madison Bowey
Scratched: Taylor Chorney
Goaltenders
Philipp Grubauer (starter)
Braden Holtby

no word on refs yet

I'm not surprised Willy is having a career year on 1, he showed he was capable when put up there briefly last spring. Also, as I've noted before I don't use CORSI I left an interesting link in the story I would've normally edited out


Tom Wilson, left, celebrates his goal against the Chicago Blackhawks. (AP Photo/Jeff Haynes)
BUFFALO — Buried in the bad feelings over a 7-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks was a significant moment in Tom Wilson’s career. Defenseman Matt Niskanen took a shot from the right point, and Wilson made contact with the puck just so, deflecting it past goaltender Anton Forsberg for the Capitals’ only goal of the game.
[But it was Wilson’s 10th of the season, meeting an expectation publicly set by Coach Barry Trotz before the season. Wilson’s first time reaching double-digit goals in his career is the reward for the offensive progress he’s made in the past year.
"I don’t like to set goals and say that I have to hit this number, but I know it was kind of important coming into this year that I needed to help chip in offensively,” Wilson said.

The Capitals always expected Wilson to be productive when they drafted him 16th overall in 2012. But perhaps he was rushed onto an NHL roster sooner than he should have been. Perhaps the role, an enforcer who fought often and didn’t get much ice time, was all wrong for developing a 19-year-old prospect. Under Trotz, Wilson’s role has steadily evolved, one of the team’s top penalty-killers the past two-plus seasons. But until this year, he was still used in primarily a fourth-line role.
Salary cap-constraints forced Washington to part with two top-six forwards, and after Wilson impressed with three goals against Toronto in the first round last postseason, he seemed a natural candidate to absorb more responsibility. His season started with a four-game suspension for boarding, but since then, Wilson’s brought better balance to the physical side of his game.
“He’s stayed physical,” Trotz said. “He’s stayed true to his game, his identity. He’s a big man who can skate and who’s hard to play against.”
Wilson’s had stints on the top line with stars Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom before. Those were short and fizzled out. This time, he’s been the best fit beside those two, and the Capitals have taken roughly 54 percent of the shot attempts when that line has been on the ice.
“He still brings that energy, but he makes plays now,” Trotz said. “He goes to those areas, and he understands how to play with elite players. And he understands how to play with the grinders, if I put him in a fourth-line role or I say, ‘Hey, you’ve got to defend and be hard on people.’ He can do that, and he’s just growing and growing.”
Wilson will be a restricted free agent this summer, and this season is expected to earn him a raise on the two-year, $4 million he signed after his entry-level contract expired. His 27 points are already a career-high, and with 24 games left in the season, those numbers can still grow, just like the player.
Stop using Corsi to assess NHL teams. There are better stats available.
“I think it’s just having more confidence and being more comfortable with the puck,” Wilson said. “When you get more minutes, you feel the puck a little more. You’re more involved in the game, and it’s easier from that standpoint. You know what, whatever the role the coach gives me, I love playing with [fourth-line center Jay Beagle], and when I get a chance to play with [Ovechkin] and Nicky, it’s a big privilege and you’ve got to go out there and chip in. It’s been fun, we’ve had some success this year with each other, and we’ve got to keep it going.”

Maacoshark:
   Didnt we lose 3-1to this team earlier this season. It was one of the few games I missed so I have no clue how we lost to this team.

alta:

--- Quote from: Maacoshark on Monday February 19, 2018, 10:40:35 AM Eastern ---   Didnt we lose 3-1to this team earlier this season. It was one of the few games I missed so I have no clue how we lost to this team.

--- End quote ---


yes, they lost that


man, hot chicken broth never tasted so good, first meal in over 24hrs

richkrt99:
Sure hope the Caps get up for this game more than the last.
Although, I haven't actually watched the last game yet (and may never), but I watched the highlights...OOFAH!
For crying out loud this team sure does play down to whatever level the bottom feeders are playing when we play them.


I'll be watching this one on delay (as some of use taxpayers who actually work for a living do not have a holiday today)


GO CAPS

alta:
crap, I may have to watch the whole game now to see if OV puts 55 through the glass. Looking to be a physical game

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