Your savory breakfast links:
- Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday out at Kettler:
- In general. [Caps365 video (Rinkside Update, McPhee, Hunter, Hendricks/Ward, Holtby, Laich, Wideman, Johansson/Brouwer),WaPo, DCEx, WashTimes, CSNW, Caps by Puck (pics)]
- George McPhee addressed the state of his goaltenders… [NHL.com, WashTimes, WaPo, DCEx]
- … and is thrilled to have his top pivot back… [WaPo]
- … so he’s confident that the Caps “have a chance” (cue Dumb & Dumber clip). [CSNW, WashTimes]
- All eyes are on Braden Holtby, which suits him fine. [CSNW, AP]
- Michal Neuvirth skated before practice… [WaPo]
- … but Dany Sabourin was brought back from Hershey, and he’s ready for whatever lies ahead. [CSNW]
- Mike Knuble‘s 2011-12 didn’t go exactly as planned. [WashTimes]
- Jason Chimera talks about his hit on the B’s Adam McQuaid. [DCEx, WashTimes]
- And from the Boston side of things:
- Tim Thomas shuts ‘er down after the first White House question. [CSNNE, BGlobe, PHT]
- Johnny Boychuk and Tuukka Rask are close to returning… [CSNNE, CSNNE]
- … but McQuaid doesn’t appear to be. [CSNNE]
- Prepping for Alex Ovechkin… [ESPN Boston]
- … and the rest of the Caps. [NEHJ, BHerald, NESN, BGlobe]
- Claude Julien knows Dale Hunter‘s Caps aren’t Bruce Boudreau‘s Caps. [NESN]
- Brad Marchand is keeping a diary. Aww. [ESPN Boston]
- The Caps aren’t your typical seven-seed. [CSNNE]
- Stay desperate, my friends. [WashTimes]
- Here’s hoping regular season misfortune gives way to post-season good luck. [SB Nation]
- Breaking down the series and giving the power-play edge to… Washington? Yikes. [ESPN Boston]
- Speaking of which, it’s time for the Caps’ special teams to get special-er. [Dump ‘n Chase]
- No matter how you slice it, the Caps have their work cut out for them… [National Post]
- … as they take to the role of underdog. [AP]
- Could Holtby, y’know, do it? [WaPo]
- Or at least out-duel Thomas? [CSNW (video)]
- Discipline will be key for the Caps who must walk the line between getting pushed around and taking bad penalties. [KOL]
- As usual, The Captain is on the hot seat. [USA Today]
- Steinz reminds us that Bruins/NBC analyst Mike Milbury is no fan of the Caps’ coach… [DC Sports Bog]
- … and neither is Puck Daddy, apparently. [Puck Daddy]
- Predictions:
- Everybody at ESPN: Boston. [ESPN]
- Nearly everyone at NHL.com: Boston. [NHL.com]
- Former Bruin Ray Bourque: Boston. [SB Nation DC]
- Former Cap Keith Jones: Boston “relatively easy.” [WashTimes]
- Kevin Paul Dupont: Boston in six. [CSNNE (video)]
- James Mirtle: Boston in six. [Globe and Mail]
- Peerless: Caps in six. [Peerless]
- The storyline potential for a Caps run is fantastic. [Capitals Outsider]
- More pre-series thoughts. [Puck ‘N Hockey, Sick Unbelievable]
- What does it take to be a back-up ‘tender in the NHL? [RtR]
- Bandwagon fans? We’ll take ’em. [The Active Stick]
- Evgeny Kuznetsov on the Caps’ courting: “They’ve made an offer, a contract, and they’re waiting for my answer. I haven’t promised anything yet…” [RIA Novosti, RMNB]
- … and so GMGM is making a house call. [Alex Ovetjkin]
- Finally, happy 42nd birthday to Enrico Ciccone.
- Actually, here’s the real last bullet: it’s Beard-A-Thon time, so I grow, you guys donate, all for a good cause. I’m currently third on the leaderboard (two donations in), but let’s show ’em what Rink readers can do. Every little bit helps. Thanks!