With TJ Oshie out of the lineup tonight, Brett Connolly will be replacing the skilled forward on the first line. It also means Hershey Bears forward Liam O’Brien will make his season debut on the Capitals’ fourth-line along with Jay Beagle and a bruised-up Tom Wilson.
#Caps lines tonite: 8-19-10, 90-92-14, 26-20-65, 87-83-43. Defense: 27-74, 9-2, 44-88. Scratches: 4, 28. INJ: 77. Holtby vs Price. #CapsHabs
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) January 10, 2017
The Big Tuna (who resembles WWE’s Sheamus and wears number 87) played in 13 games for the Capitals during the 2014-15 season, after having an impressive training camp. O’Brien only tallied a goal and an assist, but he was a possession monster, tallying a 54.9 shot attempt percentage and a +3.9 relative shot attempt percentage when he was out on the ice.
Since being sent down to Hershey for the last season and a half, O’Brien has added another dimension to his game besides fighting and grinding. O’Brien has 18 points in 28 games and nine points in his last eight games with the Bears.
We wish him the best of luck.
Headline photo: Andre Ringuette
