Your savory breakfast links:
- Previews of tonight’s game against the Bolts from Vogs, Peerless and NHL.com, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Raw Charge for coverage from the other side of tonight’s match up.
- To refresh your memory, this is the fifth meeting between the Caps and Lightning on the season, with the Caps winning 3-0, 3-2 and 5-4 games and taking a 7-4 loss in Tampa.
- As of yesterday, it looked as if Mike Knuble, Eric Belanger, John Carlson, Tyler Sloan and Quintin Laing would be tonight’s scratches (Caps In Pictures has some shots from yesterday’s practice, by the way).
- By virtue of Atlanta’s loss last night, the Caps are once again Southeast Division Champs. Yawn. [DCEx]
- Back to Belanger, he’s the subject of today’s Post hockey file. [WaPo]
- Apparently there are seven cities that deserve a Cup more than D.C. does. [The Hockey News]
- Brooks Laich is just so awesome at life. [D.C. Sports Bog]
- That the Caps are below average in both minor penalties taken and penalty killing is, um, troubling. [Peerless]
- Set aside a few minutes to read the last three paragraphs and daydream a bit. [Puck Prospectus]
- Lisa Hillary sits down with Ted Leonsis for a chat. [CSN Washington]
- Could Alex Ovechkin set the single-season mark for points by a leftwing? Missing those eight games sure didn’t help his chances. [A Capital Offense]
- Scott Walker really loves the Metro, which brings the total number of D.C.-area residents who do up to… one. [D.C. Sports Bog]
- Caps fans on Twitter get a big plus-one. [Dump n’ Chase]
- Which is more important to an organization’s success – a franchise player or an owner who knows what the hell he’s doing? Luckily, Caps fans don’t have to choose. [SB Nation, Ted’s Take]
- Barack the Red, if you’re inclined to do so. [D.C. Sports Bog, RMNB]
- Good stuff from Laich and AO on stick preparation, though ESPN’s video player is NFG. [FanShot]
- Another reason to love John Carlson? He’s a Shawshank guy. [CSN Washington]
- Know what’s awesome about that whole “1920s reporter” schtick? Yeah, pretty much nothing. [D.C. Sports Bog]
- Vote on who should win the Hart Trophy. [NBC Sports]
- While you’re making your weekend plans, consider making the RtR/FFODC viewing party for Sunday’s game part of ’em – a chance to boo Cristobal Huet with friends! [RtR, FFODC]
- Mike Modano chose not to waive his no trade clause to possibly be moved to Washington. His loss (and maybe ours, in a sense). [ProHockeyTalk]
- The Caps and the Bears: one heck of a duo. [Patriot-News]
- A look at the Caps’ amateur hockey efforts (and no, “signing Tyler Sloan” isn’t on the list). [Ted’s Take]
- Finally, happy 33rd birthday to Brent Johnson, who I believe retired after last season. Or something.