Story bySammi SilberSat, January 10, 2026 at 11:29 PM UTC·4 min readGeoff Burke — Imagn ImagesAmid injuries up front and the Washington Capitals needing a spark, coach Spencer Carbery got the blender out and made new lines. He landed on a combination of Connor McMichael, Justin Sourdif and Ryan Leonard — and he ended up striking gold with it.'AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOver the last three games, the "MLS" line has driven the offense, combining for 16 points and boasting a goals-for percentage of 75 percent. Together, that combination al;so has a shots-for percentage of 53.33 percent, and an expected goals-for percentage of 59.3, which ranks first among all the team's possible line combinations at the moment."Just a good combination of speed, skill, hockey IQ," McMichael put it simply. It's not just a numbers game, though; that line has jump in its step, with McMichael's playmaking, Sourdif's finesse and Leonard's offensive instincts combining to give Washington a speedy, shifty line that can make an impact every time its on the ice. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnd, for Sourdif, a big reason for its success so far has been the personnel."Just talking to each other after every shift, we're just always encouraging each other. You know, 'Nice play, let's keep it simple' and just helping each other every shift out there," Sourdif said.
