Tuesday Caps Clips: All Eyes On Braden Holtby

Your savory breakfast links:

• Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday out at Kettler:
  • In general. [Caps365 video (Rinkside Update, McPhee, Hunter, Hendricks/Ward, Holtby, Laich, Wideman, Johansson/Brouwer),WaPo, DCEx, WashTimes, CSNW, Caps by Puck (pics)]
  • George McPhee addressed the state of his goaltenders... [NHL.com, WashTimes, WaPo, DCEx]
  • ... and is thrilled to have his top pivot back... [WaPo]
  • ... so he's confident that the Caps "have a chance" (cue Dumb & Dumber clip). [CSNW, WashTimes]
  • All eyes are on Braden Holtby, which suits him fine. [CSNW, AP]
  • Michal Neuvirth skated before practice... [WaPo]
  • ... but Dany Sabourin was brought back from Hershey, and he's ready for whatever lies ahead. [CSNW]
  • Mike Knuble's 2011-12 didn't go exactly as planned. [WashTimes]
  • Jason Chimera talks about his hit on the B's Adam McQuaid. [DCEx, WashTimes]

• And from the Boston side of things:
  • Tim Thomas shuts 'er down after the first White House question. [CSNNE, BGlobe, PHT]
  • Johnny Boychuk and Tuukka Rask are close to returning... [CSNNE, CSNNE]
  • ... but McQuaid doesn't appear to be. [CSNNE]
  • Prepping for Alex Ovechkin... [ESPN Boston]
  • ... and the rest of the Caps. [NEHJ, BHerald, NESN, BGlobe]
  • Claude Julien knows Dale Hunter's Caps aren't Bruce Boudreau's Caps. [NESN]
  • Brad Marchand is keeping a diary. Aww. [ESPN Boston]
  • The Caps aren't your typical seven-seed. [CSNNE]
• Stay desperate, my friends. [WashTimes]
• Here's hoping regular season misfortune gives way to post-season good luck. [SB Nation]
• Breaking down the series and giving the power-play edge to... Washington? Yikes. [ESPN Boston]
• Speaking of which, it's time for the Caps' special teams to get special-er. [Dump 'n Chase]
• No matter how you slice it, the Caps have their work cut out for them... [National Post]
• ... as they take to the role of underdog. [AP]
• Could Holtby, y'know, do it? [WaPo]
• Or at least out-duel Thomas? [CSNW (video)]
• Discipline will be key for the Caps who must walk the line between getting pushed around and taking bad penalties. [KOL]
• As usual, The Captain is on the hot seat. [USA Today]
• Steinz reminds us that Bruins/NBC analyst Mike Milbury is no fan of the Caps' coach... [DC Sports Bog]
• ... and neither is Puck Daddy, apparently. [Puck Daddy]
• Predictions:
  • Everybody at ESPN: Boston. [ESPN]
  • Nearly everyone at NHL.com: Boston. [NHL.com]
  • Former Bruin Ray Bourque: Boston. [SB Nation DC]
  • Former Cap Keith Jones: Boston "relatively easy." [WashTimes]
  • Kevin Paul Dupont: Boston in six. [CSNNE (video)]
  • James Mirtle: Boston in six. [Globe and Mail]
  • Peerless: Caps in six. [Peerless]
• The storyline potential for a Caps run is fantastic. [Capitals Outsider]
  
• More pre-series thoughts. [Puck 'N Hockey, Sick Unbelievable]
• What does it take to be a back-up 'tender in the NHL? [RtR]
• Bandwagon fans? We'll take 'em. [The Active Stick]
• Evgeny Kuznetsov on the Caps' courting: "They’ve made an offer, a contract, and they’re waiting for my answer. I haven’t promised anything yet..." [RIA Novosti, RMNB]
• ... and so GMGM is making a house call. [Alex Ovetjkin]
• Finally, happy 42nd birthday to Enrico Ciccone.
• Actually, here's the real last bullet: it's Beard-A-Thon time, so I grow, you guys donate, all for a good cause. I'm currently third on the leaderboard (two donations in), but let's show 'em what Rink readers can do. Every little bit helps. Thanks!