Well, I hope you've enjoyed this homestand because it comes to an end tonight as the Caps have their final game day morning skate at MedStar Capital's Iceplex before hitting the road. It'll be a long time before I see you guys. That's going to be a long time before I see you guys again. I wrote you a letter. I packed it in your lunch. Oh, that's nice. Just so that you know who you are. That's sweet.

That's sweet.

That's really sweet of you.

Rob Carl and Joe Beninati.

John Walton here. This is Caps Game Day Live. I present by Washington, D.C. dealers, as they close out this homestand tonight, against an L.A. King's team who's been dreadful for most of the season,

but starting to turn things around just a little bit.

I mean, they're not out of it. against an L.A. King's team who's been dreadful for most of the season, but starting to turn

things around just a little bit. I mean, they're not out of it in the Western Conference because nobody is. No one's out of it in the Western Conference. But it is a big game tonight for the caps to close out strong. Joby, let's get your big thought. Big thought, huh? So whenever I see the caps and the kings on the ice, I'm always inclined to look at the two number

eights crashing into each other and playing at an all-world level. That's Drew Dowdy for L.A.

That's Alex Ovechkin for Washington. The thing that I always notice accompanies all those big collisions

is non-stop chatter from number eight. So I go around the room today and what's it's it like to play against Drew Dowdy? He never shuts up. So I went right to Nick Dowd. I said, is this true? He goes, he never, ever shuts up. And that's part of his game. I mean, Drew Dowdy does a lot of things really, really well. And apparently he chirps extremely well. Tom Wilson, both he and Nick Dowd said the best things about Drew Dowdy.

He's a wonderful player.

I can't wait to see who gets to walk the talk tonight at the end of this game because both of these teams really need the points.

Washington, with what Rob has already hinted at with respect to their travel coming up,

the capitals really do need John to finish this homestand in good form. They do. It's really the difference between what's an okay homestand and a good one. If you win tonight, you're 4-1-1 and certainly nothing wrong with that. Three-two and one, that's a bit of a different paint job and what you have to come. Six-game road trip starting tomorrow night in Columbus. And to that end, Phoenix Copley getting

the start tonight for Washington. And this, I think, his biggest start in a Washington uniform.

The capitals need this not just to finish out a big homestand, but you need a little bit of a

springboard right now, fellas, going into what will be a Lions Den tomorrow night at

nationwide arena against a team that has beaten you two or three times.

You got San Jose coming up after that. Anaheim in L.A. Yes, the ducks are struggling, but L.A. is not. Know that, and we'll sure we'll get to that here in just a little bit. You alluded to that a little bit as well already. But as far as this one is concerned tonight, for Phoenix Copley, a strong effort here and a chance to get two points to set up, Raydon Holtby, and a big showdown against the jackets tomorrow to keep the cannon fire at minimum, hopefully, tomorrow night in Central Ohio. This is a big one for Copley, but a big one tonight for the Capitals, too. I think Phoenix is ready for it. He gives every indication that he is. And if he plays solidly, then again, he builds that confidence in this hockey team.

I thought it was, I thought it was great that Todd Reardon didn't flinch, didn't even think about going with Hulpie in these back-to-back situations.

Save him for tomorrow. Tomorrow's going to be a rugged, rugged contest, and so will

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