Your savory breakfast links:
- Previews of tonight’s visit to Detroit from Vogs, NHL.com, AP, Peerless, Stars and Sticks, MLive, and be sure to check out our SB Nation pals over at Winging it in Motown for the other side of tonight’s matchup.
- The big story? Alex Ovechkin sitting one goal shy of passing Sergei Fedorov for the all-time mark by a Russian… and having a chance to hit the milestone on Sergei Fedorov Night at the Joe. [NHL.com, Wings, WaPo, CSNMA]
- A lot of greats weigh in on the greatness that is Ovechkin. [NHL.com (and again)]
- The other story, of course, is that tonight marks the first time the Caps face former teammate Mike Green. No, these aren’t tears… it’s just dusty in here. Really. [NHL.com]
- Looks like goalie Petr Mrazek will get the nod against the Caps tonight. [NHL.com]
- Two former Caps were honored with Hall of Fame inductions last night; many congrats to Fedorov, Phil Housley and the rest of the Class of 2015. [Puck Daddy]
- Reflecting on Sergei Fedorov’s legacy, which included parts of two brief but influential seasons with the Caps. [NHL.com, Puck Daddy, WashTimes, Dump ‘n Chase (from 2008), Nate Ewell]
- Housley goes into the Hall after 23 years in the NHL, the highest-scoring US-born defenseman and a member of the only Caps’ squad to make it to the Cup Final. [Examiner, Tennessean, OtF, WGR 550]
- A look at who’s hot and who’s not in this week’s Ups and Downs, and more from the week that was… [Rink, Stars and Sticks, ESPN, THW]
- …and a look at the week ahead. [Stars and Sticks]
- BREAKING: Alex Ovechkin shoot puck good. [RMNB]
- News and notes from pre-flight practice:
- In general. [Monumental video (Trotz, Backstrom, Ovechkin, Rinkside Update/Oshie)]
- Brooks Laich sat out practice yesterday (and apparently used his free time to… shoot stuff?) after blocking a shot against the Leafs, but should be good to go tonight. [CSNMA]
- A double-minor and a third-period benching taught Tom Wilson an important lesson about staying physical. [WaPo]
- Braden Holtby is taking a new approach to shootouts this year. [CSNMA]
- Big doings for the Caps, the Wizards and their televised futures. [SportsBusiness Daily, CBS DC]
- Farm update:
- Stanislav Galiev is making the most of his conditioning stint with the Bears. [Patriot-News]
- Take a closer look at the past week for the Bears and Stingrays. [Caps Outsider (and again)]
- Finally, happy 59th to Greg Carroll.