Saturday Caps Clips: Capitals vs. Hurricanes Game 5 Game Day

Your savory breakfast links:

• Three Caps-related things on our mind yesterday. [Rink]
• Previews of tonight’s Game 5 on 7th and F from Vogs, NoVa Caps, Reuters, and as always check out our SB Nation partners over at Canes Country for the other side of the series.
• With Oshie on the shelf for the foreseeable future, the call went out for one of last year’s playoff heroes - welcome back, Devante Smith-Pelly! [Caps, NBCSW, WashTimes]
• So what does the addition of DSP (and subtraction of Oshie) do to the Caps’ offense? [NBCSW]
• Already down a defenseman and lacking scoring from forwards not named Alex Ovechkin, the loss of Oshie further tests the team’s depth overall. [WaPo]
• It also takes a valuable voice out of the leadership group - so someone else will need to step up. [WaPo]
• The Caps aren’t the only ones ailing; Canes forward Jordan Martinook left Thursday’s game early and is questionable for tonight, as is Svechnikov. [NHL, News & Observer]
• A few leftovers from Thursday’s Game 4 loss. [Caps, Canes, RMNB, Canes Country, StarsandSticks, Peerless]
• Despite a better all-around effort, preventable goals early in the game and late in the second cost the Caps a win. [RMNB]
• News and notes from yesterday’s practice back in Virginia. [Caps video (Caps365, Reirden, locker room)]
• Officiating is always a bit of a grab bag, but playoff officiating has been maddeningly inconsistent. [ESPN]
• Perhaps the Caps need to bump up the physicality. [WNST (Frankovic)]
• Todd Reirden and Rod Brind’Amour are two of the three rookie coaches in the postseason, and both are enjoying the chess match of it all. [AP]
• Former coach Barry Trotz is eager to take on his old team in the next round. Here’s hoping, Barry. [WaPo]
• The Bears’ playoff run got off to a rocky start as they dropped Game 1 to the Sound Tigers in double overtime. [Caps Outsider, NoVa Caps]
• Finally, happy 35th birthday to Jamie Hunt, and happy 69th to Mike Lampman.