Your savory breakfast links:
- Recaps and other assorted musings on last night’s OT win over the Jackets from us, Vogs, Monumental video (Trotz, Alzner, Green, Holtby, Brouwer, Fehr, Latta, highlights), NHL.com, AP, The Score, WaPo (gamer, blog), CSNW, Frankovic, DSP, Stars and Sticks, RMNB, BrooksLaichyear, Union Blue and The Cannon.
- John Carlson might be getting a phone call from the League after this little shot to the head of Ryan Johansen. [The Score]
- Analytics don’t just tell the story of the individual or the team – they can also be a measure of a coach. [Toronto Star]
- We’re not saying that long shootout went to Holtby’s head… but maybe steer clear of him ’round high noon, yeah? [Rink (Backwards Slapshot)]
- Winter Classic updates:
- The rink is going up! RIP, Nats Park infield. [CSNW]
- Okay, but those rumors about the field quality quashing a potential alumni game are apparently false. Unsurprisingly, it was about money; surprisingly, it was about not wanting more of ours. [WaPo]
- The NBC crew talks about the upcoming game, and ponders whether President Obama will show up. [CSNW]
- Some have scoffed at the upcoming matchup between the Caps and ‘Hawks; let ’em. This one’s going to be a good one. [Stars and Sticks]
- So what’s the weather looking like for January 1? Potentially cold. Or not. And maybe rainy. Or it could snow. Or… uh, maybe we’ll ask again next week. [WaPo]
- News and notes from yesterday’s pregame skate:
- In general. [Vogs, Monumental video (Trotz, Brouwer, Rinkside Update/Johansson)]
- Carlson is on pace to put up a big assist number this season, but his focus has been on improving his game in general, and it’s starting to pay off. [WaPo]
- After a shaky start to the season, the Caps know that they can count on Braden Holtby to make the big saves. [WaPo]
- Sometimes Barry Trotz likes to mix up his forward lines… and sometimes he just likes to make us think he’s going to. Not that we fell for it, of course. Nope. [WaPo]
- The Caps have done well on the road so far this season, which is good – because that’s where they’ll be for most of December. [WaPo]
- Andre Burakovsky has sat out four of the last five games, and if they can’t get him into the lineup soon, he may be headed for Hershey. [WaPo]
- Eric Fehr: Overtime hero and best-selling children’s author. Okay, maybe not BEST but pretty darn good. [CSNW]
- Sure, that other DC sports team dominates this list of the top 10 DC sports phrases – but the Caps get #9, and in our unbiased opinion, it’s the best one. [WaPo]
- Speaking of other DC sports teams, Wizards fans cordially invite all of us to hop on the bandwagon. Hey, you root for our guys, we’ll root for yours. Synergy, baby. [Bullets Forever]
- Finally, happy 41st birthday to Andreas Salomonsson, and happy 44th to Robert Lang.