Your savory breakfast links:
- Recaps and other assorted musings on last night’s win from us, Monumental video (Oates, Holtby, Fehr, Chimera, New Guy Who Just Scored His First NHL Goal), NHL.com, WaPo, CSNW, Frankovic, Peerless, RMNB and from the Fishbowl, Blades of Teal and Golden Gate Report.
- One of these five players in white got credit for this goal, eventually. [CSNW]
- “Unexpectedly strong game for the James Sheppard line, who proved to be the Sharks‘ only real answer to a Jason Chimera / Eric Fehr / Joel Ward combination for Washington that was wreaking havoc on the forecheck and regularly hemming Joe Thornton and Brent Burns in their own zone.” [Fear the Fin]
- Chris Brown‘s first NHL goal had at least a secondary assist from the team in teal, but his lineys were quick to give him props, and flying objects in his postgame interview. [@BeccaH_JR, @dustinpenner25, @tom_wilso]
- ‘Twas a bit of a surprise when warmups began with word from the team that Jaroslav Halak had a lower-body something-something and that Braden Holtby would be getting the start. [WaPo]
- The something-something may not be too serious, as Coach Oates sez he expects Jaro in goal vs. the Kings on Tuesday. [@kcarrera]
- Hockey doesn’t stand still for a portrait. Especially if teh hockey has been GIF’d. [Rink]
- Lessons abound in this West coast swing, if the Caps should choose to learn them. [THW]
- Guys, the New York Times is ON IT: Alex Ovechkin is having quite the bipolar season… [NYT]
- … so, uh, maybe take note of his eleven-game (now twelve-game) scoring drought at evens. [WaPo]
- Hey, now’s a great time to review your preseason division and conference rankings. That is, if you blogged them way back in August. [Caps Circle]
- The Hershey Bears had a little more trouble with the Baby Sharks, as Worcester engineered a stunning comeback in the third to take the W and the two points. [Patriot-News]
- News from Prospect Town:
- Very possibly the Riley Barber Watch could be on, as the Miami RedHawks fell 4-3 to Denver in the NCHC finals and their season is done. Miami will miss the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2004-2005 season. There has been a not-inconsiderable amount of speculation over the past few weeks that Barber may choose to go pro. [BoB, @BenRaby31]
- After a two-goal effort on Friday, Andre Burakovsky put the Erie Otters on the board in the second game of a best-of-seven first round against the Saginaw Spirit, a 4-3 overtime win. The Otters now lead the Spirit two games to none. The next game is in Saginaw on Monday. [CBC]
- Related: Burra blew out every rookie scoring category in the Otters’ record books, but he won’t be listed in them because rules. [GoErie.com]
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Also related: “Burakovsky has the quickest shot in the OHL. As strong as Spirit G Jake Paterson was [in game one] (44 saves), he had no chance to stop Burakovsky’s quick release and accurate wrist shot on the tying goal early in the third period.” [GoErie]
- The Portland Winterhawks and Garrett Haar also have a two-game lead in their series vs. the Vancouver Giants.
- The Calgary Hitmen with captain Jaynen Rissling split the first two games of their series with the Kootenay Ice. The next game is Monday @ Kootenay.
- Madison Bowey and the Kelowna Rockets opened their series against the Tri-City Americans with a win. They play again today in Kelowna.
- Chandler Stephenson had two assists for Regina but his Pats squad fell to the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-3. They face off today in Regina.
- Finally, happy 38th birthday to Nolan Baumgartner, happy 56th to Bengt Gustafsson, and happy 26th to Michal Neuvirth.
- One more: Russian Machine Never Breaks put on a whale of a party last night. It was a great night for Caps hockey and an even greater night to spend with fans of Caps hockey. Thanks to RMNB and RFD for their stellar hospitality, and thanks to everyone who attended for their enthusiasm. The festivities were, to coin a phrase, simply sensational.
