Your savory breakfast links:
- Alex Ovechkin is back on the job and – wait for it – talking with the media. How about that? [Corey Masisak, Corey Masisak, CI, Alex Ovetjkin]
- Ovi: “I must admit, I want to win.” Good to know. [Alex Ovetjkin]
- Jose Theodore talks about losing his son. Heart-breaking read, to say the least. [WaPo (with “Saves for Kids” charity information here)]
- Theo and his teammates are now focused on the weeks – and months – ahead. [Corey Masisak]
- Nicklas Backstrom‘s Olympic performance draws rave reviews. [Puck Daddy]
- “Ovie, on the other hand, folded like an umbrella during the quarterfinal against Canada.” [The Hockey News]
- Along those lines (but completely detached from reality), Michael Wilbon on February 10: “Ovechkin is the best player in the NHL right now.” Michael Wilbon on March 1: “Right now, Ovechkin would need a telescope to see Crosby, who’s that far ahead in this race.” Reactions to Wilbon’s over-the-top and inaccurate bloviating (yes, there’s more… much more) from Peerless, D.C. Sports Bog, RMNB and in this FanShot.
- Shaone Morrisonn doesn’t like Sidney Crosby. There’s a pretty good chance that Sidney Crosby doesn’t know who Shaone Morrisonn is. [D.C. Sports Bog]
- “A lot of guys call me Sniper, because of my ability to score.” – Matt Bradley (who also goes by “Mr. Offense”) [DCist]
- Bruce Boudreau has been one tremendously successful regular season coach in the NHL so far. [Puck Prospectus]
- Looking ahead to the stretch run… [Homer McFanboy]
- … one featuring a favorable schedule for the Caps… [On the Forecheck]
- … that opens with an interesting March. [RtR]
- And what would the stretch run be without Rage‘s Eastern Conference Playoff Tracker, an annual rite of spring of Stravinsky proportions? [FanPost]
- Puck Daddy has a prediction: “Alex Ovechkin will edge Sidney Crosby by one goal for another Richard Trophy.” JP has a prediction: If that happens, this will be the most popular page on NHL.com. [Puck Daddy]
- Hey, power rankings are back, with the Caps holding the top spot at Sportsnet and CBS Sports.
- Lightning blueliner Kurtis Foster dislikes the Caps more than any team in the League (good) and calls the Verizon Center the toughest arena to play in “because of the fans” (great). [Raw Charge]
- Owner’s Corner. With the Owner. But no corners, really. [Caps365 (video)]
- A Q&A with George McPhee, in which he reveals exactly whom he’s targeting at the deadline and what he’s willing to move in return. Right. [CI]
- A look at the Caps’ trade deadline options and an argument for not trying to upgrade the team down the middle. [DCEx]
- The Flyers are lookin’ to deal and may be interested in Milan Jurcina, “a tough-as-nails d-man.” I guess there are less accurate things you could write about Juice. [CSNPhilly]
- And speaking of Jurcina, “[b]elieve it or not, one of the teams thought to have interest is the Washington Capitals.” [BJX]
- On this date back in 1992, the Caps acquired Paul MacDermid from Winnipeg for Mike Lalor so, um, there’s organizational precedent for a March 2 trade.
- “Absurd Goalie Monday” featuring Jim Carey. [The Strangest One of All]
- A nice keepsake from Mike Knuble‘s appearance in Baltimore. [FanShot]
- Hammer + nail head = Duhatschek (for today, at least). [CTV]
- Great pics from the Bears’ “Capitals Night” jersey auction, including Braden Holtby looking like someone who should be doing your taxes (and/or complaining about someone stealing his stapler), not stopping pucks. [Caps In Pictures]
- Happy 48th birthday, Peter Andersson.
- Finally, last evening I did a phoner with Mick Kern that will air on XM204’s “The War Room” today some time after 11:00 AM. Check it out to see what I sound like with a massive head cold (two words: dead sexy).