Your savory breakfast links:
- Previews of tonight’s Game 4 with the Rangers from Vogs, NHL.com (Masisak), CSN Washington (Zuckerman), Hockey Mom, Frankovic, Peerless, Sick Unbelievable, CRtC and Scotty Hockey (Rangers), and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Blueshirt Banter for more coverage from the other side of tonight’s match-up.
- Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday’s practices:
- In general. [Caps365 video (Boudreau, players), 106.7 The Fan (Kerstein), bridgetds (pics)]
- Mike Knuble takes a maintenance day, but is expected to be in the lineup tonight. [NHL.com (Masisak), CW (Whyno), CI (Carrera), DCEx (McNally), CSN Washington (Zuckerman)]
- More on the targeting of Mike Green and his reaction to it. [CW (Whyno), CI (Schimmel), DCEx (McNally), CSN Washington (Zuckerman), Skate Skate SHOOT, SB Nation DC, and check out a good read on previously concussed players being targeted, generally, at SI.com (Hackel)]
- Bruce Boudreau Hates MSG, Day Two. [CW (Whyno)]
- And from the Rangers’ side:
- In general. [NHL.com (Lozo), Ranger Rants, NYPost (Brooks)]
- John Tortorella stokes the flames. [CI (Carrera), Ranger Rants, PHT]
- Sean Avery, Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust on one line is… something. [NHL.com (Lozo)]
- The Caps need to get Mo’ back (and we’re not talking ShaMo or BMo). [Dump ‘n Chase, CW (Whyno), Box Seats (El-Alaily)]
- … and they need to give Michal Neuvirth just a bit more support. [CSN Washington (Raby)]
- … and they need to be more physical. [WaPo (Carrera), Homer McFanboy]
- … and they need to “avoid a seven-game series at all costs” (and here I thought the only thing they had to avoid at all costs was losing their last game). [WaPo (Hamilton)]
- … and Alex Ovechkin needs to get more shots on the cage. [CW (Whyno), CI (Schimmel)]
- … and the old guys need to be as good as the young guys. [Baltimore Sports Report]
- Oh, hey, the Caps have a new defensive style, y’all. [USAToday (White)]
- Not everyone understands and/or approves of Boudreau’s off-ice tactics. [PuckUpdate]
- Will F-16 be cleared for takeoff? [Hockey Independent (Scriven)]
- Yesterday’s radio hits:
- Karl Alzner on The Junks… [106.7 The Fan (audio)]
- … and Brooks Laich on Elliot in the Morning. [YouTube (audio)]
- “Pressure is on Alex Ovechkin and an undisciplined cast of snipers.” Um, ok. [The Star]
- Can’t get enough on the Jason Arnott–Scott Stevens connection. [Homer McFanboy (with more on Arnott’s impact on the team at NYT’s Slap Shot blog)]
- AO’s top five plays of the week. [CSN Washington (video)]
- History will be red (which sounds a hell of a lot better than “red will be history”). [YouTube (video)]
- Watch out, Caps – The District has an eye on your wallet. [WashTimes (Howell)]
- The Caps’ have tough skin, both physical and digital. [Ross Hollebon]
- On the hardhat. [Pest Control Techonology Magazine (all Emily on this find, btw)]
- Happy 61st birthday to Mike Lampman.
- Finally, today in Caps/Rangers history:
- 2009 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: Semyon Varlamov posts the tenth playoff shutout in franchise history as the Caps cut the Rangers’ series lead in half at 2-1.