Your savory breakfast links:
- Previews of tonight’s Game 1 with the Lightning from Vogs, NHL.com (Masisak), AP (White), and CRtC, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Raw Charge for more coverage from the other side of tonight’s match-up.
- Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday at KCI:
- In general. [Caps365 video (Boudreau, players, Kettler Report), CI (Carrera, Carrera), CW (Whyno, Whyno), DCEx (McNally), 106.7 The Fan (Kerstein), bridgetds (pics)]
- There was a brief power outage during practice (which hopefully isn’t foreshadowing the series). [CW (Whyno), NBC Washington]
- On stopping Tampa’s big guns. [CSN Washington (Raby), CI (Carrera)]
- And from the Bolts side of things:
- Guy Boucher spends Thursday pumping the Caps’ tires. [ESPN (Burnside)]
- Previews and predictions:
- Caps win… [everyone responding to this survey (including me), some cow, everyone at Puck Daddy except the nerd, TSN (Cullen)]
- … in five… [CP (Johnston, Beacon), Peerless]
- … in six… [Puck Daddy, SB Nation DC, ESPN (Burnside), Objective NHL, C&B, Inside Hockey, StC, Kurtenblog, Hockey Independent (Scriven), Box Seats (Cooper), QMI (Stevenson), USAToday (Allen), OFB, RLS, Empty Netters, Puck Prospectus, The Checking Line]
- … in seven. [WaPo (Carrera), Capital Spirit]
- Caps lose. [AP]
- No-prediction previews. [Dump ‘ N Chase, NHL.com, WaPo (El-Bashir/Steinberg chat, Carrera), WashTimes (Whyno), St. Pete Times (Jones), Frankovic, Puck ‘N Hockey, Sick Unbelievable, TBO.com]
- If familiarity breeds contempt, buckle your chinstrap for this series. [CBC (Whyno), CSN Washington (O’Halloran), WashTimes (Whyno)]
- Of all the players in the series, the opposing goalie poses the biggest threat to the Caps’ playoff hopes. (Say, isn’t that what they said last series and what bounced the Caps last spring? I’m beginning to think that a hot goalie is key to playoff success.) [WaPo (El-Bashir), DCEx (McNally)]
- Breaking down Boucher’s 1-3-1. Read this. [FanPost]
- Ranking the Caps as the second-best team left in the tournament. [Y! (Cotsonika)]
- Matt Hendricks did a radio hit yesterday on LaVar and… dude, where’s my Dukes? [106.7 The Fan (audio)]
- John Erskine is ready to do that which John Erskine does. [Homer McFanboy]
- Don’t forget, we have the Bolts (in part) to thank for where the Caps are today. [CSN Washington (Raby)]
- The Caps changed their post-victory locker room jam. FYI. [D.C. Sports Bog]
- If you care where the Caps eat, well, these links are for you. [DCEx (Adams), WaPo (Reliable Source)]
- Finally, happy 31st birthday to Mathieu Biron.