re: MSB Season Long Hockey Thread

Malkin is listed as out, Letang is doubtful. Cooke is a game time decision, apparently. Pens are rightfully treating the Caps as a breather and a chance to get players healthy. Send out the B-team and you still have a good shot at victory. I think the Pens will rest all three because why not?

Brooks Laich will play his first game of the season tonight, on the fourth line. Dmirti Orlov also was called up, so he might make his first appearance of the season as well. Two big pieces for the Caps that they need to be healthy.

Start of a stretch of 7 of 8 games on the road. Caps aren't dead yet, but they well could be by month's end. This is the critical stretch for them. By my math, they've been 10-7-0 since their awful 2-8-1 start. If they can go 10-7-0 over their next 17, they will be at 50 points with three games left. It looks like 54 points will be the playoff line, so if the Caps just keep playing like this, they should be right on the line come the final days. But this road trip is critical.