Your savory breakfast links:
- Previews of tonight’s Southeast showdown with the ‘Canes the from Vogs, NHL.com, WaPo, DCEx, CSNW, Peerless and RMNB, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partners over at Canes Country for more from the other side of tonight’s match-up.
- Oh, hey, a polarizing ex-Cap comes to town tonight (and no, we’re not talking about Joe Corvo, whose awfulness is nearly universally accepted) as Alexander Semin makes his return to D.C. Don’t expect Troy Brouwer to roll out the red carpet for him. [Monumental (video), NHL.com, Puck Daddy, AP, SI, WashTimes (and again), WaPo, DCEx, CSNW, WTOP, Eye on Hockey, DSP, SB Nation, Capitals Outsider]
- The Caps were handing out two-year contract extensions yesterday like they were “1,000 Hours of AOL Free” CDs:
- Braden Holtby got one! [Japers’ Rink, Monumental (video), Dump ‘n Chase, SI, WashTimes, WaPo, CBS9 (video), PHT, RMNB, Sick Unbelievable]
- John Erskine got one! [Japers’ Rink, Monumental (video), Dump ‘n Chase, WashTimes, WaPo, RMNB, Sick Unbelievable]
- And some folks combined the two in the same post because they’re pixel conservationists like that (also, GMGM speaks). [Monumental video (McPhee), DCEx, CSNW, Eye on Hockey, THW, Puckhead]
- Other notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday out at Kettler:
- Nicklas Backstrom was under the weather and missed practice, and Jason Chimera left early. Both are questionable for tonight, which adds some intrigue. Mike Green, on the other hand, says he’s 100% ready to return to the lineup. [Monumental video (Rinkside Update, Oates, Ovechkin, Green), WashTimes, WaPo, CSNW, NBC4, DSP]
- Holtby also did a post-announcement radio hit with LaVar and Dukes. [106.7 the Fan (audio)]
- Mike Ribeiro is running out of twigs. [Sick, Unbelievable]
- Speaking of Ribeiro, he’s the Caps’ biggest chip when it comes to the trade deadline dip. [THW]
- Backstrom now has more Geico ads than goals on the season, which is sub-optimal. [RMNB]
- But he’s got a long way to go before he catches the clubhouse leader (hint: Russian Endorsement Machine Never Breaks). [WaPo]
- BREAKING: John Carlson has cut his hair. [RMNB, DSP]
- I have no idea what a Drake is, but otherwise, I’m mostly Wojtek Wolski. [Capitals OT]
- But seriously, what’s up with Dub Dub? [Capitals Outsider]
- That Freddy Cassivi story really is pretty cool. [Reading Eagle, Patriot-News]
- Finally, here’s the latest episode of Caps Red Line for your viewing pleasure. [Monumental (video)]