McMichael has definitely failed to grab the brass ring as a center, but if the team can move Lapierre for a similarly aged forward possessing some similar potential, I take it and let CMM be the next C up until PLD mercifully returns. Maybe give 22-24-53 a look and let Dowd shelter the newbie

I wanna be wrong about Milano just like I wanted to be about Lapierre. If he's looking good to others or in the underlying stats I'd be happy, but I'm just not seeing it personally and I feel like it's telling beyond the center dilemma that he's seen as the most extra of the main roster

Protas has been the 1C up in Hershey and I get the sense he'll have a real shot in camp next season. I was hoping they gave Smallman a game while he was up to see if he had at least stopgap potential, but I (kinda) get why they didn't. Lakovic is a real option down the line, Parascak is a wing.

GLB's three stars of the game:

⭐️ Logan Thompson (39 SV, shutout)
⭐️⭐️ Tom Wilson (1A, 6 SOG, 1 block, 3 hits)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jakob Chychrun (1G, 5 SOG)

#ALLCAPS

Finally, some rest. The Capitals don't have a game until Thursday, and it's at home (hosting the Canes). A chance to reassess injuries like Carlson's, and for people playing banged up to finally start to heal some. I'm excited to see what that game looks like.

The Caps played good defense, and got the better of a team who did the same. They had great goaltending, and got the better of a team with the same. To go from a 7-1 win to stealing a point in Anaheim to a game like this, it says a lot about how ready this team is now. They're just about there.

Tom Wilson got the primary assist on the GWG, shot more than anyone else, had the biggest and most selfless block of the night, and generally was doing good Wilson-y things. Even when he doesn't score goals, he's always making this team better.

It kinda felt like Ovechkin was gonna get one to go, but his five shots all got stopped. Only Chychrun could score on a goalie tonight, and that makes sense. Getting in front of that kind of shot is bad for your health. Protas locked it up with this empty netter. #ALLCAPS

If you don't watch the games, you could be convinced Strome's been solid, but it's not really there and I don't know why. It's been going most of the season so far.

Dylan Strome continued his mostly consistent trend of not really being a positive player but not having too much negative on the scoresheet to show for it. He took a penalty, but logged four shots and blocked some too.

With all the travel and tiredness, we got more minutes for Duhaime (9:45), Lapierre (8:24), and Milano (9:20). Duhaime at least threw some hits. Milano just missed a couple shots, and Lappy took the double minor. It's just not happening. The sooner two NHLers take their place, the better.

The Caps PK (and LT) deserve immense credit for their work in that four-minute kill. CBJ got I think five shots off, which Logan handled expertly, and guys like Wilson and McMichael put their bodies on the line to block even more. Just great stuff from everyone there.

The first period went without any penalties, and it felt like it would be a really fast-moving game. Then the second period saw four penalties, and the third saw two calls, one being a double minor. No PPGs for anyone, so good work PK units. The PP wasn't awful, just not quite good enough to score.

We knew that it would be Logan Thompson vs. Jet Greaves as the main matchup to watch, and oh how true that was. A combined 75 saves, including some spectacular ones from each, and finally a shutout for LT in his 100th win. Greaves was at an awesome .973 and really couldn't do much about the one.