Friday Caps Clips: Stars @ Capitals Game Day

Your savory breakfast links:

• Previews of tonight’s dance with the Stars from Vogs, NHL.com and Peerless, and be sure to check out our SB Nation pals over at Defending Big D for the other side of tonight’s matchup.
  • Sounds like Jay Beagle and Brooks Orpik are out tonight, while Mike Green is a question mark. [WaPo, CSNW]
• News and notes from yesterday out at Kettler:
  • In general. [Monumental video (Trotz, Backstrom, Rinkside Update/Fehr)]
  • Nicklas Backstrom is now tied for the franchise lead in assists, a milestone that is just a bonus for the world’s quietest superstar. [WaPo]
  • The Caps have had relatively good luck in the health department this season… until now. [WaPo]
  • Speaking of battered, bruised, and out, John Erskine took his first turn around the ice at Kettler this season as he continues to rehab from his preseason surgery. [CSNW]
• A few leftovers from Wednesday’s loss:
  • Ugly loss, beautiful pictures from Clyde. [Rink]
  • The head-to-head battles with the Rangers are key if the Caps want to climb the standings, and the most recent loss will make that climb even steeper. [WaPo]
  • Was it a playoff preview? [CSNW]
• With his goal Wednesday night, Alex Ovechkin becomes just the fifth player in NHL history to score 45 goals in a season at least seven times – and only the third to do so before his 30th birthday. In. Sane. [CBS Sports]
• A look at the leading scorers for each nation in NHL history. [Puck Daddy]
• Breaking down the awards races – who takes home the hardware this June? [The Score]
• John Buccigross talks about the Caps’ chances to make a run in this year’s playoffs. [ESPN]
• The Caps continue to make wishes come true for some special kids – this time for a 13-year-old who dreamed of playing with Braden Holtby. [Monumental video, WJLA, Fox 5]
• Finally, happy 46th birthday to Kevin “Killer” Kaminski and happy 53rd to Grant Martin.