Your savory breakfast links:
- Previews of tonight’s battle of undefeateds from Vogs, NHL.com (Hunter), SI (Hackel), SB Nation DC, Peerless, Puck Buddys and CRtC, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Winging It In Motown for more coverage from the other side of tonight’s match-up.
- Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday’s practice, including the latest on Michal Neuvirth‘s and Jay Beagle‘s injuries. [Caps365 video (Kettler Report, Boudreau, Neuvirth), 106.7 The Fan (audio), CI (Carrera), CW (Whyno here and here), DCEx (McNally), DSP]
- Tonight could be your last chance to see Nicklas Lidstrom in person (insert jinxtastic joke here). That’s not lost on a couple of Caps Swedes. [Dump ‘n Chase, WashTimes (Whyno)]
- Sidenote: Bruce Boudreau rounded out his career as a hockey player with the 1991-92 Adirondack Red Wings. Lidstrom’s rookie season in the NHL was that very same season, with Adirondack’s NHL affiliate in Detroit. Mind blown?
- Most of the Caps have little more than a passing familiarity with the Wings. But not Troy Brouwer and Joel Ward. [KOL]
- Mathieu Perreault provides a nice fourth-line spark. [WashTimes (Whyno), CI (Carrera)]
- Thursday night was certainly a step in the right direction for Alex Ovechkin. [WashTimes (Whyno), DCEx (McNally), SB Nation DC, CSNW (Gormley)]
- As for Tomas Vokoun, facing 40-plus shots in a game is a plenty familiar feeling. [CW (Whyno), CI (Carrera)]
- Some numbers on those last two chaps. [NHL.com (Kreiser)]
- Dennis Wideman did a phoner with the boys at NHL Live yesterday. [Capitals Overtime]
- Balance, baby. Balance. [CSNW (Gormley)]
- Where are they now (and how are they doing)? [CI (El-Bashir)]
- Milestones, ahoy. [RtR]
- Starts, streaks and stats… [Capital Spirit]
- … and end-games. [THW, Sick Unbelievable]
- What has two thumbs and isn’t buying the Caps’ hot start? Chris Stevenson. [QMI]
- Apparently this whole “not losing” thing (in regulation, at least) runs in the family. [Patriot-News (Leone)]
- Good stuff on prospect Caleb Herbert. [Duluth News Tribune]
- Finally, happy 31st birthday to Matt Pettinger and happy 43rd to Terry Yake.