Your savory breakfast links:
- Previews of tonight’s return to action in Toronto from Vogs.
- After missing the last 16 games with a fractured fibula, Alex Ovechkin could be in the lineup tonight…but we’ll know more later today. [NHL, WaPo, AP]
- Auston Matthews definitely will not be in the lineup for the Leafs tonight, however. [NHL]
- Five years after the Caps drafted him in the third round, Aliaksei Protas has arrived. [WaPo]
- The Caps have been one of the best road teams in the league this year – and their special teams are a big reason why. [S&S]
- Checking in on the team after yesterday’s practice, which included updates (sort of) on Ovechkin and Lars Eller. [Caps video (Carbery, Wilson, Carlson, Strome), THN]
- Really hard not to like the kid who wears the C for Team USA at the WJC:
- Leonard and Cole Hutson will face a surprise Team Latvia crew today, featuring fellow Caps prospect Eriks Mateikos, who scored a goal and the shootout winner over Canada last night. [IIHF]
- Team USA is as free as a bird at this year’s tournament, thanks to their new goal song (one that was blasted 10 times in their first outing back on Thursday). [NHL, THN]
- Colorado just signed newly acquired goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to a five-year extension; could his new contract be the blueprint for one (or both) of the Caps’ netminders? [RMNB]
- Alex Ovechkin resuming his chase for Gretzky is one of a number of storylines to keep an eye on in the second half of the season. [NHL]
- Taking a look back at an action-packed 2024 for the Capitals. [S&S (Draft Class, Best/Worst, Defining Moments)]
- Couple of NHLers hit this list of the 25 greatest athletes of the last 25 years…hard not to feel a little insulted by the breathless description of one and the oversimplified “compliments” for the other, but whatevs. [The Score]
- Finally, hapy 68th birthday to Doug Patey, happy 48th to Benoit Gratton, and happy 42nd to Curtis Glencross!