Your savory breakfast links:
- So we’re not necessarily buying “Well, we’ve addressed it“? Didn’t think so. [WaPo]
- If the Habs are to have any chance in this series, they’ll likely need Jaroslav Halak to be the second coming of Patrick Roy, Jacques Plante and/or Ken Dryden. (I wonder if any of those guys ended his season with three-straight losses to non-playoff teams.) [Corey Masisak]
- On the other hand, goaltending really isn’t all that key for the Caps. That’s an, um, original take. [CBSSports.com]
- Besides, you can’t predict who’s going to be hot and who’s going to fizzle come playoff time. [BtN]
- Even still, Jose Theodore ‘s third period save percentage over his 24 games is a little bit amazing. [Brodeur is a Fraud]
- Other storylines worth following. [NHL.com]
- Can the Caps make a run? [CI]
- “I get the impression there are about five players on the Montreal roster the other Canadiens don’t trust on the ice.” Oof. [Elliotte Friedman, who has some other Caps items as well]
- If you missed Rink Side Radio last night, check it out (I’m at the top of the show, which is convenient). [Rink Side Radio]
- A bunch of stat dumps over at Habs Eyes On The Prize. [Here, Here and Here]
- The Caps were pretty good against good teams. Montreal? Not so much. [Bird Watchers Anonymous]
- Predictions: The Hockey News, The Hockey News, Damien Cox, Ray Ferraro, TSN and the CAPS lock.
- Embrace the bandwagoners, Caps fans. Alternatively, show them all due respect. [WaPo]
- Where the Habs stand heading into the playoffs. [Gazette]
- Jacques Martin says the pressure is on the Caps, which makes sense, as Montreal has already met its goal of barely making the playoffs for a second consecutive year…. [Gazette]
- … But Bruce Boudreau says the pressure’s on the Habs because they’re the Habs… [CBC]
- … and Jaroslav Spacek says the pressure is on AO. [Gazette]
- That R.J. Umberger quote is in heavy rotation in La Belle Province, but Mike Cammalleri knows what’s up. [TSN]
- Some keys to Caps/Habs. [Ed Frankovic]
- Apparently “exciting teams have a hard time winning titles.” Uh, yeah. [CTV]
- “The Canadiens, meanwhile, labour to score, are undersized up front and showed a tendency down the stretch to become unglued under pressure.” Other than that, they’re pretty awesome. [CP]
- The final power rankings of the regular season have the Caps holding the top spot at CBSSports.com,TSN (with a bit more), National Post, and The Hockey News.
- A bunch of great stuff from Steinz yesterday, including a discussion of Alex Ovechkin‘s strength, his parents’ gratitude (refined for the paper), Jose Theodore moving product and Montreal’s former love of JT60.
- The Caps complete the Hart-Norris sweep… on one voter’s ballot, at least. [National Post]
- Another good post in support of Mike Green. [RtR]
- Translation of an Ovechkin/Alexander Semin interview. [FanPost]
- Eight things you didn’t know about AO (and by “you,” they don’t mean you). [MSNBC]
- Good to see my buddy Eric McErlain and OWO gearing up for the playoffs. [Off Wing Opinion]
- If only games were played on paper. [Puck Probabilities]
- Be a man and grow a beard. That goes for you ladies, too. [RtR]
- Pat Sajak know his S _ I T (“I’d like to solve the puzzle, Pat”). [NHL.com]
- Octopi in Detroit, rats in Florida, possibly snakes in Phoenix… what would Caps fans throw on the ice if such shenanigannery were to take place here? Donkeys and elephants? [CapsBlog]
- Alex Ovechkin‘s 50 goals in 50 seconds. [FanShot]
- Look, they mention the Caps and there’s a picture with some Caps bobbleheads in it, so I’m linking. And you’re clicking. [WaPo]
- Calder Cup predictions. [Patriot-News]
- Great stuff on Braden Holtby. [Bears Bites and Insights]
- More from down on the farm in your Farm Report. [FanPost]
- You love the mantra. You live the mantra. Now buy the shirt. [Japers’ Rink Store]
- Per the HHoF, on this date back in 1997, “Capitals‘ rookie Jaroslav Svejkovsky scored his first career four-goal game as Washington won 8-3, at Buffalo.” “First.”
- Finally, happy 47th birthday to Jim McGeough and happy 36th birthday to Sergei Gonchar (who I’d never have guessed was 36 if I hadn’t seen him play this year).