TBH, i don't think this was anything other than coach getting Milano in a game. Vrana did look better the previous game, as did Lappy, and I expect they will be back for next game. Honestly I thought Sgarbossa had a good game vs Columbus, but unless Lappy is just not cutting it, I don't think Sgarbossa will get much work.
Milano and Vrana are about the same ilk in my book, both speed to burn and not much else, tho I do think Vrana has more scoring touch and better shot, and I do think a nudge faster. Neither is very good at board work or back checking, so I don't see either really blossoming on the 3rd line, but Lappy has pretty good wheels so maybe they can generate something.
I tried to look it up to see if I could find any data on who is actually the Caps fastest. Surprisingly, when I searched, Fehervary comes up with 24.21 MPH as caps fastest based on NHL edge stats this year, and McMichael shows up at 22.79mph. Can't find anything on Vranna
I found a stat from last year that Milano 21.44MPH (Kuzy was 21.55 and WTF?...Mantha at 21.73 for the Caps fastest forward)
Didnt mean to turn your comment into a stat page - I agree Milano is not an improvement over Vrana. Although Vrana (both) is somewhat defensively lacking, I do think he has a better chance of putting the biscuit in the basket.
Not so sure on those speed stats. Milano has never looked all that fast to me. Vrana, though he isn't what he was, is still much quicker.