Tuesday Caps Clips: Preds @ Caps Game Day

Your savory breakfast links:

• Previews of tonight's promenade with the Preds from Vogs, NHL.com, Peerless, SB Nation DC, CRtC, and CB, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner and Friend o' the Rink On the Forecheck for more coverage from the other side of tonight's match-up.
  
• Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday's practice:
  • In general. [Kettler Report, Caps365 video (Hunter, Beagle)]
    
  • The top line gets a new look as Marcus Johansson moves up to left wing, and Alex Ovechkin slides right ... [WaPo, DCEx]
  • ... and Johansson is excited for the chance to play on a line with Nicklas Backstrom. [DCEx]
    
  • Welcome back to full-contact practice, Jay Beagle. [DCEx, WaPo]
  • Mike Green on-ice in full gear is a welcome sight, but he left the ice before regular practice got underway. [WaPo]
• Mike Knuble will play in his 1,000th NHL game tonight, and the kudos and congrats roll in:
  • Mike Vogel brings the #fancystats, and a look back at #22's memorable first game in the Show. [Dump n' Chase]
  • Nine hundred and ninety nine games in, Knuble reflects on his career ... [WashTimes, Caps365 (video), CSNW (story and video)]
    
  • ... on his coaches ... [Dump 'n Chase]
  • ... and on his college years as he becomes the first* Michigan Wolverine to log one thousand games on NHL ice. [College Hockey Inc. (story and audio)]
    • *Yes, really the first. Next closest was Red Berenson, with 987. The company you keep, and all that. [@_collegehockey]
  • Caps teammates offer their thoughts. [WashTimes, @JohnCarlson74]
  • It's about the consistency. [WaPo]
  • A hometown is proud of its hero, and Knuble's high school hockey coach will be on hand to celebrate this milestone. [mlive.com]
  • A net's natural predator. [Hockey Yelling, Sick Unbelievable]
  • The Rink rounds up the best moments of a distinguished career. Drop by and share your memories, pics and links. [FanPost]
  • Kudos, congrats, and a needed dose of righteousosity. Preach it, Brother Hassett. [RMNB]
• The game will be a two-milestone night for the Caps. Knuble with his thousandth game, and Marcus Johansson playing in game number one hundred. Here's why that's important. [KOL]
• Stop this roller coaster, we want to get off. [WashTimes]
• Some, uh, interesting logic regarding Alex Ovechkin's struggles - apparently if the Caps were winning more games, he'd be fine (rather than vice versa). [ESPN]
• A six-pack of Caps to chat about. [KOL]
• If the Southeast Division was a television Christmas special, which one would the Caps be? [CSNW]
• ADORBS/60 and WarmFuzzies/60 bury the needle as members of the Caps, Wizards, and Mystics join forces to spread some holiday cheer. Merry Hanukkah! [Caps365 (video)]
• The #fancystats (at least some of them) are pretty clear - with better goaltending, the Caps would be in great shape. [AIH]
• Ted Leonsis reveals his five favorite D.C. spots. [Cultural Tourism DC]
• Merry Christmas, Little Boy Brooks. [NHL Players as Kids]
• Late December means it's time for the World Junior Championships, and Caps prospect forward Evgeny Kuznetsov has been named Captain of the Team Russia squad. The team has arrived in Calgary and Alyonka Larionov is on hand to document their journey for TSN. [@AlyonkaLarionov (video, photos)]
• Finally, happy 61st birthday to Bill Clement, without whom this historically awful hockey card would never exist.