Your savory breakfast links:
- Recaps and other assorted musings on last night’s win from us, Vogs, Monumental video (Trotz, Johansson, Kuznetsov, Holtby, Laich) NHL.com, AP, WaPo (gamer), CSNW, Peerless, Frankovic, DSP, RMNB, Stars and Sticks (plus three stars), BrooksLaichyear, and from the Leafs’ end of the ice, Pension Plan Puppets, Toronto Sun and NatPo.
- Eric Fehr continues to be Mr. January (sans centerfold, we presume). [Puck Daddy]
- From Elias: Washington’s Marcus Johansson first goal in Wednesday’s game gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead in the first period, and that was key since scoring first has been almost a prerequisite for Washington to win this season. The Capitals have scored the first goal of the game in 20 of their 21 wins this season including each of their last 16 victories. That matches the NHL’s longest single-season streaks of wins in which a team scored first in the last seven seasons. The Canucks scored first in 16 straight wins in 2011-12, as did the Blackhawks in 2012-13.
- Much respect to Roman Polak. Also, ouch. [Deadspin]
- Please recall that the Caps’ previous game at Toronto also ended in a 6-2 score.
- Oh hai there John Carlson, creeping up the Caps’ assist leaderboard. RAHJC has 26 apples on the season and is now only one assist behind team-leading Nick Backstrom‘s 27… [Caps Outsider]
- … plus he’s also sliding up the NHL leaderboard for assists among defensemen, second only to St. Louis’ Kevin Shattenkirk, who has 28 apples. [NHL.com]
- Today in adorableness, here’s Alex Ovechkin making a little girl’s birthday wish come true. [Monumental (video), SI, RMNB]
- So, uh, about that penalty kill… [Rink]
- Preview of tonight’s Flyerztown fling from Vogs, Peerless and NHL.com, and be sure to check out our SB Nation pals over at Broad Street Hockey for the other side of tonight’s match-up.
- Goalie drama in Philly – Steve Mason left practice early with injury, and was thought to be out for tonight, but may yet be a game-time decision. [PHT]
- And coaching drama in Philly – Craig Berube could be the next head coach to get the axe. [Philly.com, BSH]
- News and notes from yesterday’s morning skate:
- In general. [Monumental video (Trotz, Niskanen, Ovechkin, Two-Man Advantage, Rinkside Update/Chimera)]
- Coach Trotz and Joel Ward shared some memories of working with new Toronto interim bench boss Peter Horachek. [Toronto Sun]
- Playing with more discipline and staying out of the sin bin are on the team’s to-do list. [WaPo]
- Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov met with Russia’s silver-medalist U-20 team following the skate. [RMNB]
- Finally, wishing a very happy birthday indeed to Ted Leonsis.