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GLB's three stars of the game: ⭐️ Logan Thompson (21 SV, .955 SV%) ⭐️⭐️ Boone Jenner (1G, +2, 3 SOG, 1 block) ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Timothy Liljegren (1G, +1, 2 SOG, 1 block) #ALLCAPS

The next visitors to Capital One Arena will be the Seattle Kraken in two days' time. Seattle has scored six goals every other game so far, including tonight, and lost the ones in between. Hopefully that trend holds Sunday.

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Carbery called the game on the whole both ugly and a confidence builder, which sounds about right. Finding a way to win the gritty games, especially ones like this that could have playoff implications months from now, has to remind you that you can win any game. This team certainly can.

That Pro-Pro-Kyrou line still isn't showing us enough. It's early, but the three of them combined for one shot and nothing else stat-wise. Their minutes aren't winning minutes yet, and late I noticed Aliaksei starting a shift with Jenner and Sourdif, which could have been for a number of reasons.

All three goalies were great in the various times they played, with maybe extra credit to Garand for stopping 11/12 in his unexpected half of the game. LT single-handedly kept the close game from going back to a tied one on numerous occasions.

The Caps are gonna have a lot to review after this one. Finding ways to maintain O-zone time and generate offense through a really well-run man-on-man defense is gonna be crucial if they want to make a playoff run. Drawing more penalties is one aspect, maybe speedier lines, quicker shots.

I dunno if Gavrikov set out to get a rise out of Wilson or if it happened organically, but it worked regardless. The future captain never went too far, but you could sense that he might have were he a few years younger and less wise. Willy logged three shots and three hits, plus the ENG.

Both teams were content to make this a tight and physical affair, and the mostly more experienced and larger Capitals are gonna win that battle more times than not. The stats say NYR out-hit DC 35-22, but one set was a little more effective in stifling offense.

This game was marked to me by an utter lack of flow for both teams. Maybe 80+% of the centering passes sailed through the slot untouched, guys were slinging it straight to the other team, it was tough to really get offense started with a man advantage let alone 5v5.

First and foremost, really hope Igor Shesterkin is back soon. You could tell how much he was hurting and it would really suck to lose one of the best goalies in the NHL at the very start of the season.

That's officially, if barely, a win streak for the Washington Capitals, who are now 3-0 against their division with a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers. #ALLCAPS

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The second period was certainly better for the Capitals, as they finished it up 2-1 with the shots 22-15 in their favor. The Rangers were relentless on defense but that couldn't stop DC from getting to Shesterkin and then Garand. Whichever team finds some flow first can take this one. #ALLCAPS

Much, much, much needed goal from Boone Jenner to put the Caps up for the first time tonight. #ALLCAPS

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Really hope Shesterkin isn't as badly injured as it looks like he might be

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Liljegren finally sounds the siren and the game is tied. #ALLCAPS

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Not an ideal first for Washington. Down 1-0, D-zone play has been lacking, flubbed puck handles and shots, Sourdif especially hasn't looked like his head is in the game yet. The physicality is there but without much to show for it except maybe a slightly reduced SOG count for New York. #ALLCAPS

Tom Gulitti @tomgulittinhl.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Reposted by Green Line Brawl

The Capitals have now been shorthanded 14 times in 3 1/3 games (really 3 1/6) and drawn 8 PPs. They need to even those numbers out, at least.

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Lafrenière hits on the power play to open the scoring. #ALLCAPS

Tom Gulitti @tomgulittinhl.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Reposted by Green Line Brawl

No Matt Roy (lower body) at Capitals morning skate again ahead of game vs. Rangers tonight.

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Green Line Brawl @glb.dogfishcr.us · 09/10/2026

The Washington Capitals are gearing up to host the streaking New York Rangers tonight at 7. They'll be looking to build on Wednesday's win, tighten up a bit in their own zone, and hopefully see more out of the Protas²-Kyrou line. #ALLCAPS

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I was thinking their clear attempts weren't working too well so they tried to just play in-zone keepaway, but yeah maybe there was a better option than making it harder for LT to track

GLB's three stars of the game: ⭐️ Logan Thompson (27 SV, .900 SV%) ⭐️⭐️ Tom Wilson (1G, 2A, +3, 2 blocks, 2 hits) ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Alex Tuch (1G, +2, 6 SOG, 2 blocks, 1 hit) #ALLCAPS

Next up is a Fri-date with the Rangers, also at home. I get to go to that one, yay for me. After losing their season opener, the Rangers have won four in a row and would love to make it five against a division rival. The Caps would love to stay above .500 and get their first win streak going.

Alex Ovechkin, also scoreless, logged plenty of shot attempts and a hit in his final season opener. He helped set up the first goal, without a credited assist, and overall managed to contribute even without the shots going in.

One of the stories tomorrow will surely be Sidney Crosby, on the ice for four goals against without any real offensive contributions. It's not often he doesn't find a way to make an impact, especially in a game that at times got very very close.

Logan Thompson was amazing. Those three easily could have been six-plus had he not stood on his head in crucial moments, especially in the third period. I can't be surprised at how good he is anymore but I sure do love seeing it night after night.

The huge line, Protas-Protas-Kyrou, did not come up huge. The three were on the ice for all three goals against; they needed to get better and they did, not allowing any in the third. Hutson and McIlrath were unsurprisingly on for two goals against.

Five different Caps got the goals in, and the big contributors were on one line. Tuch (1G), Dubois (1G, 1A), and Wilson (1G, 2A) came up huge in this game.

Even the last four minutes of empty net time was gripping for (I'd imagine) both fanbases. Every second of this one felt crucial. Every Cap on the ice played it responsibly instead of gambling for the breakaway or the long shot.

So much push and pull as this one unfolded. From the Capitals being the better team for a long stretch, to the Penguins taking over, to a final back-and-forth where even with a two-goal separation it could have been anyone's game, the only certain thing was excitement. Fun home opener.

In what was very much a WSH-PIT type of game, the Washington Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3. So worth staying up a little later for. #ALLCAPS

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The Caps really needed this. Leno gets em going at the very end of the power play and it's 5-3. #ALLCAPS

After a second period that saw the Penguins show some life and the Capitals make some mistakes, the lead is still the same one goal (now 4-3) but the momentum is leaning Pittsburgh's way. Gonna have to play better defense going forward to keep ahead. #ALLCAPS

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A perfect redirection that goes in every time. The Penguins are back within one just like that. #ALLCAPS

Thompson can't get back in time and the Pens finally get one back. 4-2 now. #ALLCAPS

Another gift from Carlile. We sure he isn't paid off? Tuch and Wilson get a two-on-none and that's more than any goalie should have to deal with. The Tuch-Dubois-Wilson line has all got goals now. #ALLCAPS

Carlile sets a pick on his own goalie and opens up the net for Dubois. Don't even need TvR or Lapierre as secret agents. #ALLCAPS

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The Capitals head to the dressing room up 2-1 on the Penguins, after a period where they certainly outplayed Pittsburgh at every strength. More than triple the shot attempts, a 14-4 shot count, and more threatening short-handed than the power play Pens. Overall a great start. #ALLCAPS

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Wilson gets left alone prematurely, but Dubois didn't forget about him. It's another one-goal lead for Washington. #ALLCAPS

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Less than a minute of play later, Bryan Rust ties things up in his season debut. Might be one of those affairs. #ALLCAPS

Green Line Brawl @glb.dogfishcr.us · 07/10/2026

It only took 23 seconds for the Capitals to get a goal. Ovechkin's defensive pressure helps create an opportunity for Beauvillier, who buries it. Can't ask for much better than that, especially from this line. #ALLCAPS

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Welcome home, Capitals. Washington is finally playing in Washington for the first time this season, against who else but the Pittsburgh Penguins. TNT and HBO Max have this one, allegedly starting at 7:30, so expect the coverage to lean into Sid vs. Ovi even more heavily than usual. #ALLCAPS

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Green Line Brawl @glb.dogfishcr.us · 05/10/2026

Not discounting Ovi's leadership and the culture he's helped create, or his achievements on the ice, but I'm excited for the captain to be a frequent best-on-the-ice guy again

Green Line Brawl @glb.dogfishcr.us · 05/10/2026

Alex Ovechkin has announced, to his teammates and to the world, that this will be his final season with the Washington Capitals. No more speculation, just one final ride. The news comes exactly 21 years after his NHL debut. #ALLCAPS

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Reposted by Green Line Brawl

Tom Gulitti @tomgulittinhl.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

No Matt Roy at Capitals practice today after he left game in Tampa on Saturday with a lower body injury.

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Green Line Brawl @glb.dogfishcr.us · 04/10/2026

GLB's three stars of the game: ⭐️ Charlie Lindgren (27 SV, .931 SV%) ⭐️⭐️ Boone Jenner (1A, 3 SOG, 2 blocks) ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jakob Chychrun (1A, 2 SOG, 1 block) #ALLCAPS

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Green Line Brawl @glb.dogfishcr.us · 04/10/2026

After the road back-to-back to start the season, how about a homestand? The Caps get three at home in a row next week, starting with (of course) the Penguins. No Rock the Red Carpet, a 7:30 start for some reason, coming off whatever this game was plus three days off, potentially no Roy. Yay.