Your savory breakfast links:
- More Rink-on-the-Radio as our own Kevin Klein checked in with ESPN 980 to talk… slow starts. [Rink]
- An up-and-down road trip is rated by Ups and Downs. [Rink]
- Previews of tonight’s Caps-Carolina clash from Vogs (plus game notes), NHL.com and Peerless, and be sure to visit our SB Nation pals over at Canes Country for the other side of tonight’s matchup.
- Wanted: Consistency. [FiCP]
- Or perhaps searching for a spark. [NVC]
- On the one hand, the Canes need a series of mini-miracles to push their way into playoff contention. [Canes and Coffee]
- On the other hand, the Canes are giving their prospects a chance to prove themselves. [News & Observer]
- News and notes from yesterday’s practice out at Kettler:
- In general. [Monumental video (Trotz, Ovechkin, Beagle, Carlson (injury update), Rinkside Update/Oshie), NoVa Caps Fans, Friends in Cold Places (pics) ]
- Recent uninspired play = linemate shuffle. Hello top line Jay Beagle . [CSNMA, RMNB]
- Alex Ovechkin reports he’s still hampered by whatever was hampering him at the All-Star break. [WaPo]
- Oh hai there John Carlson , on (solo) skates again but in no hurry to push back into the lineup. [WaPo, CSNMA]
- Roadie in review. [FiCP, NVC]
- Caps are facing Adversity™ for the first time this season. [TSN]
- Possibly related: The Vezina Trophy race is wide-open. [Puck Daddy]
- Key issues for the season’s final month. [WashTimes]
- Evgeny Kuznetsov – still incredible. [Real Sport 101]
- Handicapping the race for the Jack Adams Award. [USA Today]
- Finally, happy 37th birthday to Jean-Francois Fortin, happy 35th to Tyler Sloan, happy 34th to Dave Steckel and happy 63rd to Blair Stewart.