Your savory breakfast links:
- The Narrative returns for another playoff year, as we break down three things we’re talking about when we talk about the Caps. [Rink]
- Breaking down some numbers for the upcoming matchup. [Rink]
- A few leftovers from Tuesday night’s playoff-clinching game in Philadelphia, and the empty net heard round the Eastern Conference. [Rink, RMNB, Yahoo]
- Most people didn’t see the Caps as a playoff team – but Coach Carbery always believed in his boys. [WaPo]
- And we believe in Coach Carbery, and the fact that he’s deserving of some Jack Adams consideration. [S&S]
- Against all odds. [Daily Faceoff]
- Previews and predictions for the Capitals’ first-round series against the New York Rangers (and the rest of the east). [NHL, SNY, THN]
- Storylines abound for this upcoming series, from brotherly love to dueling superstars to a reunion with a former bench boss. [THN, NY Post]
- The Caps may be the underdogs in this one, but they’re excited to take on the mighty (“mighty”?) Rangers – and their former coach. [WashTimes]
- Once upon a time, just making the playoffs wouldn’t be much of an accomplishment for this team. Times have changed, and yeah, they’re pretty much just happy to be here. [WaPo]
- We officially have a schedule for Round 1! …but only for Game 1. [NHL]
- The playoffs will not be expanding beyond 16 teams anytime soon. [AP]
- Easily one of Alex Ovechkin’s worst seasons, offensively – and yet still pretty damn good. [Caps Outsider]
- Looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer to see Ryan Leonard in red, white, and blue, as he’s opted to stay at Boston College for his sophomore season. [Yahoo, AP]
- Congrats to all-around good guy Tom Wilson on yet another honor, as he was named the Caps’ nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. [Caps]
- Finally, happy 36th birthday to Anthony Peluso, happy 46th to Boyd Kane, and happy 47th to Sébastien Charpentier!