Friday Caps Clips: Russia Falls in Shootout

Your savory breakfast links:

• Today in Olympic hockey: Belarus vs. Sweden (3:00p Eastern, MSNBC), Czech Republic vs. Latvia (7:30p Eastern, CNBC), Finland vs. Germany (11:55p Eastern, MSNBC)
• In late night action last night, Russia lost to Slovakia in a shootout (given that loss and Canada's scare against Switzerland, is it anybody's tourney, or at least anybody with a hot goalie's tourney? And did last night's results ruin any chance of a Russia-Canada gold medal game?). [NHL.com]
• Alex Ovechkin miscellany. [D.C. Sports Bog]
• If you question what value Semyon Varlamov is getting out of his Olympic experience when he's unlikely to see any game time, here's your answer. [@dchesnokov]
• Speaking of young Caps goalies, Michal Neuvirth "has returned to D.C. and is unsure if/when he'll be healthy to play during the OLY break." [@cmasisak22]
• Hey, Tomas Fleischmann is in Vancouver, too. Who knew? [Heavy Medal]
  
• The Boss checks in with the owners' perspective on Olympic pucks. [Ted's Take]
• Ranting about a rant about Ovechkin's media availability following Russia's first game. [FFODC]
  
• Seriously, is it possible for national media figures to compliment AO without working some dig in there? [Sportsnet]
• Tom Poti reflects upon his Olympic experience... [Worcester Telegram & Gazette]
• ... and Mike Knuble talks about his. [Grand Rapids Press]
  
• The Caps have been better than expected thus far. [TSN]
• Perhaps the Caps should look at acquiring Minnesota's Marek Zidlicky at the deadline. [Puck Prospectus]
• Grading GMGM's three most recent acquisitions. [RtR]
• The Caps don't need to go goalie shopping before the deadline. [Hockey or Die!]
• Everything you wanted to know about season-ticket price hikes but were too lazy to ask. [D.C. Sports Bog]
• Get to know the woman who birthed the greatest hockey player on the planet. [RMNB]
  
• The Bears are shaking up their lines a bit (because winning 24 of 26 simply isn't good enough), but here's one remarkable stat: Hershey has won 23 consecutive games with Chris Bourque in the lineup. [Patriot-News]
• Speaking of the Bears, here's as detailed a Keith Aucoin update as you could possibly want (and then some). [Corey Masisak]
  
• Finally, per the HHoF, on this date back in 1982, "Washington beat Montreal 3-1 to end the Canadiens' 34 game unbeaten streak against the Caps. Washington had been 0-32-2 against Montreal since entering the NHL in October 1974." Oy.