Your savory breakfast links:

● Isn't it awesome watching Alex Ovechkin lay a guy out in open ice and then set up a nifty assist on the power play? Well, duh. But why is he dressed like a Vancouver Canuck? [WaPo, SB Nation DC, Puck Daddy, Backhand Shelf, NBC4, RMNB, Alex Ovetjkin, Hockey Shopped]

○ "I expected less of myself." If you say so, comrade. [R-Sport]

○ At least Team Russia's chief North American scout was impressed. [@KravchukIgor]

● ... and that's the good news. On to Lockoutville, population: misery

○ No thaw in the Cold War. [WashTimes]

○ The mote in Gary Bettman's eye. [Puck Daddy, ESPN]

○ If this is really about the money, we're [rhymes with booed]. [Forbes (and again), CBC.ca, CSNW, Puck Buddys]

○ Parsing Ovi ... [ESPN, CSNW, SI]

○ .. and standing shoulder pad to shoulder pad with him. Aw, Brooks. [CSNW]

○ "Nothing's changed." [CSNW]

○ In this game of musical hockey chairs, some few are going to be left standing. [SportsNet]

● Ease your "no rookie camp" blues by reading how the Caps will assemble the camp. Next year. [Dump 'n' Chase]

● Sarge gets scrutinized. [Peerless]

● Happy 43rd birthday to Curtis Leschyshyn, and happy 30th birthday and a hearty "Welcome Home" to the one and only Brett Leonhardt.

● Finally, congratulations and a stick salute to the Washington Nationals upon reaching the postseason. Fortunately playoff beards look much more natural in October than they do in June. Best wishes, gentlemen, and go give 'em hell. [Federal Baseball]