Monday Caps Clips: Round 1, Game 3 Game Day

Your savory breakfast links:

• Previews of today's Game 3 with the Bruins from Vogs, NHL.com, WashTimes, Peerless and RtR, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Stanley Cup of Chowder for more coverage from the other side of tonight's match-up and throughout the series.
• Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday's optional Caps practice:
  • In general. [Caps365 video (Rinkside Update, Hunter, Ovechkin, Holtby, Laich, Alzner/Carlson, Hendricks/Beagle, Green/Hamrlik), WaPo, WashTimes, CSNW (video), 106.7 The Fan DC, Examiner, CRtC, mkpanda78 (pics)]
  • Braden Holtby is the man for now. Duh. [WaPo, WashTimes]
  • Hey, y'all, the Caps can play some D. [CSNW]
  • Man, it's good to have Nick Backstrom back. [CSNW]
  • It's also good to have Mike Green back, even if the offense hasn't been there yet. (Fun fact: Green has been on the ice for both Caps goals so far and neither Bruins tally... that would be Dennis Wideman and Jeff Schultz for both.) [WaPo, WashTimes, CSNW]
  • Alexander Semin, blocker of shots. Okay, shot. But still. [WashTimes]
  • Dear Diary: I'm kicking ass in the faceoff dot (to the tune of 17-for-22 in the defensive zone so far). [WaPo]
  • Mmm... greasy. [WashTimes]
  • Sweet playoff beard, Dima. [RMNB]
• Notes from the B's end of the ice:
  • Claude Julien speaks. [Caps 365 (video), CSNNE]
  • Milan Lucic knows the Bruins top players can be better. [CSNNE, BHerald]
  • The B's held a team meeting before flying to D.C. (likely to make sure everyone packed a toothbrush and whatnot). [CSNNE]
  • Not breaking news: stars get treated differently than everyone else. [NESN]
  • A few more notes from Beantown. [ESPN Boston, BGlobe, CSNNE]
• John Walton calls the Game 2 winner. [DC Sports Bog]
  
• Holtby has been focused and fantastic. [WaPo, with more on Holtby at Next Year, D.C. and KOL (with more on other topics as well)]
• Could the Caps actually be... learning? [WashTimes]
• Working overtime and taking care of business. [Dump 'n Chase]
• Friends, we have a battle on our hands. [BHerald, NHL.com]
• Ovi envy. It's what's for breakfast. (And lunch, and dinner...) [BHerald]
• The Bruins need more of what Brad Marchand does best from Brad Marchand. [ESPN Boston, with a bit more here]
• It was the best of series; it was the worst of series. Fortunately, they are not the same series. [Sun Media]
• Playoffs, baby. [Caps B-Ball]
• Head games. [RMNB]
• So this is how the system's supposed to look, yeah? [HomerMcFanboy]
• In praise of the supporting cast for supporting the cast. [Hockey Hourly]
• On this day in 1988, this happened. [Capitals]
• Congrats are in order for Chris Bourque, who wrapped up the Hershey Bears' regular season with a total of 27 goals and 66 assists for 93 points and the John B. Sollenberger scoring title. The Bears begin their climb to the Calder Cup on Friday at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. [AHL.com, SHoE, Patriot-News, Caps Outsider]
• Hey, brothers and sisters, kick in a ruble or two for good luck by donating to Caps Charities via my beard. Do it.
  
• Finally, happy 49th birthday to Garry Galley.