Your savory breakfast links:
- Previews of tonight’s showdown with Ottawa from Vogs, NHL.com, AP, Ottawa Citizen, and be sure to check out our SB Nation pals over at Silver Seven for the other side of tonight’s matchup.
- The Caps will hit the ice in Ottawa looking to spoil the festivities as longtime Chris Phillips gets set to break Daniel Alfredsson‘s record of games played for the franchise. [Ottawa Sun (and again), Ottawa Citizen]
- A couple of young Ottawa players are eagerly awaiting their first chance to take on one of the League’s best in Alex Ovechkin. [Ottawa Sun (and again)]
- Caps’ GM Brian MacLellan talks about his team today and where they could be in a month as he draws closer to his first trade deadline. [WaPo, CSNW]
- The team will have a couple of crucial tests ahead of them between now and then that may help determine what the Caps do on March 2. [Shadows on the Ice]
- Don’t. Trade. Mike. Green. [CSNW, Stars and Sticks]
- …is not something being said by Red Wing fans. Back off, vultures. [WIIM]
- Mike Milbury actually saying nice things about Ovechkin?? Sure, he doesn’t look all that thrilled about it… but he did say it and there’s video proof! [CSNW]
- Both Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom have been inching closer to the franchise mark in assists. So who gets there first… and who holds it longer? [Caps Outsider]
- Welcome back, Cameron Schilling. [Caps]
- Congrats to Al Koken, who will be honored by Comcast this Sunday for his 30 years of Caps’ coverage – well deserved, sir! [CSNW, WaPo, Talk the Red]
- The blueline has been crucial to the production of offense this season, and it’s something they’ve worked on in practice. [WaPo]
- Updates on contract talks (or lack thereof) with a couple of pending free agents. [CSNW]
- Thoughts on the tight Metropolitan Division, the Caps’ blanking of the Cup champs and more. [ESPN]
- The Caps are looking at Tuesday night’s 4-0 win over the Kings as a blueprint for success going forward. [NBC4]
- Prior to that big win, Barry Trotz shook up his forward lines – and it paid off. [WaPo, WashTimes]
- It’s not like the Caps didn’t know how good Braden Holtby was before, but putting up three straight donuts in regulation will get those songs of praise turned up to 11. [WaPo]
- In fact, Braden, Brooks and Brouwer are all awesome. [RMNB]
- It’s been a trend all year long – when the Caps score first, they win. [CSNW]
- Imagine the Jets‘ much-maligned winger Evander Kane in a Caps’ jersey. And then wipe the drool off your keyboard. [Stars and Sticks]
- Don’t look now, but the underlying stats for the Caps have them looking like an elite team. [Stars and Sticks]
- More on Nathan Walker‘s season-ending ACL injury, and what it could mean for him next year. [CSNW]
- Finally, happy 34th birthday to three-time Capital Kris Beech.