Your savory breakfast links:

• Russia posted a convincing 5-1 win against Sweden in the first game of the Channel One Cup tournament. Nicklas Backstrom and Marcus Johansson had the assists for the game's first tally; then the Russians took over and dropped five unanswered goals on Bolts 'tender Anders Lindback, including a beauty from Alex Ovechkin.
  • The highlights show an absolutely filthy sequence for the Swedes. Mean Lars uncorks a sizzling wrister right into and off of Barulin's pads, darts in, picks up his own rebound and elegantly backhands it through traffic to Danielsson at the top of the circle for a laser beam of a goal. Ovi's goal sequence starts around the 3:00 mark - a nice bit of give-and-go and a coast-to-coast rush ends with a jubilant #8 and a sad-looking #19 and #90. [Alex Ovetjkin, RMNB]
    
• The latest labor-related news, non-news and assorted whatnot:
  • The federal mediators are mediating, and not much is happening. Perhaps they should try for federal decisionators next lockout. [NatPo]
  • The Mediator-in-Chief has graciously declined the Great State of Minnesota's invitation to join the negotiating team. He does have some advice for the interested parties, however. [Puck Daddy, CSNW, RMNB]
  • The Founding Father of the Caps' blogosphere checks in with a conversation about ... well, you know. [Off-Wing Opinion (audio)]
  • Oh hai there Mark Cuban. Who ya got? [Puck Daddy]
  • This movie was terrible the first time they made it. And now they are trying for a sequel. [ESPN]
  • Or possibly a game show. [The Hockey News, NHL Numbers]
    • Point: Bettman is winning. Here's why. [CBC]
    • Counterpoint: Fehr is winning. Here's why. [Murray Chass]
  • The lockout in one simple infographic. [Peerless]
  • On the bright side, short seasons = fun. [Denver Post, USA Today]
  • We're mad as hell and we're ... still not quite sure what to do about it, frankly. [WashTimes]
  • No. Just no. [Puck Daddy]
  • Ultimatums are so final and all. Perhaps a penultimatum? [Yahoo! Sports]
• In which the rules and traditions of Hendy's new challenge coin are revealed. The only rule you need to remember is that Matt Hendricks never pays for a beer, ever. [Caps Outsider]
• Karl Alzner has Dennis Wideman crashing on his couch, a regular skate date with Jeff Schultz, and Team Canada on speed dial. [WTOP]
• Some world junior notes:
  • Tom Wilson was among the final cuts announced by Team Canada. He will return to the Plymouth Whalers and work towards next year. [Dump ''n' Chase, Caps Outsider]
  • Team Sweden should be stronger with Filip Forsberg and Christian Djoos on the roster. [Hockey Prospectus, Backhand Shelf]
• About those hockey pants, Hershey. [Puck Daddy]
  
• Finally, happy 45th birthday to Bill Ranford and happy 50th to Peter Sundstrom.