GDT#38 Capitals at Rangers

[alta]

Dec. 27 Capitals vs New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden
Time: 8:00 p.m.
TV: NBC Sports Network
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, Capitals Radio 24/7
Washington Capitals 22-13-2
New York Rangers 19-13-4

REFEREES
Wes McCauley #4, Jon Mclsaac #2
LINESMEN
Shandor Alphonso #52, David Brisebois #96

anticipated lines;
Forwards
Alex Ovechkin 8 Nicklas Backstrom 19 Tom Wilson 43
Jakub Vrana 13 Evgeny Kuznetsov 29 T.J. Oshie 77
Andre Burakovsky 65 Lars Eller 20 Brett Connolly 10
Devante Smith-Pelly 25 Jay Beagle 83 Alex Chiasson 39
Scratched: Chandler Stephenson 18,  Nathan Walker 79
Defensemen
Dmitry Orlov 9 Matt Niskanen 2
Christian Djoos 29 John Carlson 74
Brooks Orpik 44 Madison Bowey 22
Scratched: Taylor Chorney 4
Goaltenders
Philipp Grubauer 31(starter)
Braden Holtby 70




By Callie Caplan December 27 at 10:53 AM
T.J. Oshie and the Capitals return to action Tuesday night. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)Capitals forward T.J. Oshie’s Christmas break started with teammates, sharing a flight to Minnesota with defensemen Taylor Chorney and Matt Niskanen, as well as Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt, a former Capital.But Oshie spent the rest of his three days off with his wife’s family, watching his two young daughters enjoy the holiday and open their gifts.Oshie said he appreciated the relaxation away from hockey, but the Capitals’ respite ended Wednesday morning and immediately the team will face a slate of tough opponents.[[size=inherit]Nate Schmidt is the latest ‘one who got away’ from the Capitals[/size]]
They face three Metropolitan Division foes in the next four games, starting Wednesday night against the New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden. If they want to maintain their status as one of the top teams in the standings, they’ll need to refocus quickly.“I don’t know how many games we’ve played, but it feels like Christmas is sort of the halfway point, so I feel like teams really start to kick it in gear here,” Oshie said. “Teams look at the standings and realize that there’s not much more time to mess around or much more time to — I guess take it easy isn’t the right word — but not much more time to not give it your best every night.“We’ve got to hunker down here. Everyone else will be.”The Capitals won’t return a full lineup in their first game back.Fourth-line forward Chandler Stephenson missed the team’s morning skate in Arlington on Wednesday with an illness, a team spokesman said, and he won’t fly with the team to New York. Alex Chiasson, a scratch in the team’s 3-0 loss in Las Vegas on Dec. 23, will likely fill Stephenson’s spot on the right wing.Goaltender Philipp Grubauer took shots at the end of practice and appears likely to start in net at Madison Square Garden, saving regular starter Braden Holtby for a quick turnaround when the Capitals play at home against the Boston Bruins Thursday.[[size=inherit]Grubauer knows his best shot at a No. 1 job lies outside Washington[/size]]
But those who will play against the Rangers harped on the importance of regaining a routine out of the break.The players developed a rhythm from late November until the Christmas break to earn 11 wins in 15 games. Now tied for second in the division with the Columbus Blue Jackets (46 points), the Capitals see their upcoming schedule as an opportunity to separate themselves from the fourth-place Rangers (42 points) and their other divisional foes.“We’ve still got a long ways to go before we are where we want to be,” Oshie said. “So, important stretch here there next four or five games to get us back on track.”After the Bruins Thursday, the Capitals welcome the Metropolitan Division-leading New Jersey Devils (47 points) to Capital One Arena on Saturday.Then in January, the Capitals have six games — starting Jan. 2 at the Carolina Hurricanes — against divisional opponents. Just nine points separate the first-place and last-place teams in the divisional standings.“Big points on the line tonight, and tomorrow and the next game, so we’ve got to be ready to go,” forward Brett Connolly said. “It’s definitely an important three games, and it’s going to be an important month, too.“There’s a lot of games, a lot of big games, against teams in our division, so we’ve got to be ready. I think guys had a good break, and we’re ready to go now.”

[Capsfanva]

Let's go CAPS!  A win tonight allows me to throw this into my brother in laws face because he is a huge Rangers fan.

[ArJunaZ]

Thanks for putting up the GDT Alta.  It's been a hectic day for me.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas holiday.  I've been very focused this holiday on family and the billions of people whose lives should and could be so much better if not for the many greedy, pathetic SOB's that work feverishly to ensure these less fortunate brothers and sisters of ours will never have the opportunity to pull themselves up and into the kind of world that holds the pleasures that we all enjoy and that many take for granted.  The New Year brings us an opportunity to help get our own house in order, get the country back on track, and to expose the Deep State globalists who've held the world back in ways many cannot imagine, much less believe.

As we enjoy this game tonight we should think of those who can't even begin to think of such luxury and frivolous behavior as attending or even sitting and watching a hockey game, or anything that requires the things we take for granted like electricity, clean water, food, etc..  We have a long way to go to remove the swamp rats holding the world back and even the simple act of putting your attention and desire on it will help.

It's time for all knowledge to be revealed and to share the bounty of the Earth with everyone.
God Bless All.
AJ

Now!  Caps need to Kick some Ranger Butt tonight!

My apologies from straying from Hockey in this thread, but this has been heavily on my mind this past week as I have tried to help my son appreciate the many blessings and opportunities he has that most others can only dream of.  I know that he will make a contribution that will facilitate the change we want to see and be in the world.  We all have that power.

[alta]

looks like I'm listening to Walton while watching the game, ain't no way I'm going to listen to Penis McGuire for three hours

[justwincaps]

How weird is this - watching a Caps-Rangers game with Holtby and Henryk on the bench?

[DC_1908]

jesus, McPenis even sucks commentating traffic

[ArJunaZ]

jesus, McPenis even sucks commentating traffic

LOL
 

[DC_1908]

wtf is this? See who can make the biggest mistake first?

[ArJunaZ]

Caps play is ugly beyond belief.  Terrible passes, turnovers, losing puck battles, and not as physical as the Rags.   A swift Trotz kick in the butt is in order.

[ArJunaZ]

[DC_1908]

am i the only one who wants to punch the True Car guy?


A chubby hipster lecturing me on how to buy cars that cost less the engine alone costs in either off my cars. . .

[DC_1908]

Paid wouldn’t approve of that 😁

[ArJunaZ]

Paid wouldn’t approve of that 😁

Hopefully the mods here won't ban me for it.   

[ArJunaZ]

I think someone should put together a Caps theme tune composed of various pipe ping notes.

[washcapsfan]

No double minor for shitty pants for a high stick

[Stealyerfaceoff]

Wakey wakey sleepy Caps!

[DC_1908]

Paid wouldn’t approve of that 😁

Hopefully the mods here won't ban me for it.   

nah, the mods here are not only cool, but good at moderating

[ArJunaZ]

What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall in the Caps locker room during this intermission.  I'm sure it won't be pretty or less than "R" rated.

[washcapsfan]

looks like I'm listening to Walton while watching the game, ain't no way I'm going to listen to Penis McGuire for three hours

You are wise beyond your years

[DC_1908]

Rinaldo got 5 games??   This league needs to man up.


Everyone knew that guy was coming to fight him, and then he lost the next fight anyway.  Nut up Toronto.