Your savory breakfast links:

● GM George McPhee's summer To Do list got one item shorter, as "Re-sign Dany Sabourin" has been checked off, leaving approximately infinity items yet to go... [Patriot-News, WashTimes]

● ... though the "Hire new head coach" item may not get checked off anytime soon. [WashTimes, and again]

● Yesterday in year-end reviews:

○ Jeff Halpern... [Peerless]

○ ... Dmitry Orlov... [CRtC]

○ ... John Carlson... [CSNW]

○ ... and a Tibetan Mastiff. [RMNB, Peerless]

● Roundtabling the Hunter Hockey Era. [DSP]

● The Alex Semin vigil begins. [PuckBuddys]

● Ross Mahoney checks in from the scouting combine in Toronto and says ... not much. [NHL.com]

○ Our SBN partner Minny Wild blog invited us to wink like GMGM for a day few hours. With the 11th pick in the 2012 NHL (Mock) Entry Draft, Japers' Rink selects ... [Hockey Wilderness]

● Counting down the top-ten defensemen in Caps history. Some room will need to be made on this list, someday. Hopefully soon. [THW]

● Wishing fair winds and following seas for Tarik El-Bashir, who is leaving both the Caps beat and the Washington Post to report on the Redskins for CSN Washington. Thanks for everything, Tarik. [Mr. Irrelevant, DC Sports Bog]

● Finally, happy 38th birthday to Jim "Ace" Carey, happy 52nd to Greg Adams and happy 60th to Jean Lemieux.

On this Memorial Day, we salute the fine men and women who stand watch on our behalf all 'round the world,

and honor those who have gone before.

Have a safe and happy holiday.

Today marks the beginning of the summer schedule here at the Rink, where the daily Clips post will take Sundays off.

Your savory breakfast links:

● Alexander Semin met with his hometown Krasnoyarsk press corps and dropped some hints about his plans as he enters free agency. Or did he? [Transcript via RMNB, video clip via @IgorKleyner, infographic via PuckBuddys]

● Dmitry Orlov met with his hometown Novokuznetsk press corps and reviewed his first year in the NHL. [Sport-Nk.ru via GoogleTrans]

● Yesterday in year-end reviews:

○ ...The forwards, part 1... [WaPo]

○ ...the goalies... [Caps Outsider]

○ ... Nicklas Backstrom... [Peerless]

○ ... Karl Alzner... [CSNW]

○ ... Keith Aucoin... [CSNW]

○ ... and Jay Beagle. [RMNB]

● The week that was in Caps-land. [THW]

● Oh hai there goalie controversy? Michal Neuvirth wants back in. [WashTimes, PHT]

● Non-controversially, Braden Holtby and Joel Ward visited Ronald Brown Middle School in DC. [@WashCaps (video)]

● Traktor Chelyabinsk kicked off The Year of Kuzya by hanging Evgeny Kuznetsov's sweater in the rafters at Traktor Arena on the eve of the KHL Entry Draft, which they are hosting. Also on Traktor's calendar this year: the KHL All-Star Game. [RMNB]

● Stanislav Galiev and the Saint John Sea Dogs will meet the Shawinigan Cataractes tonight for the right to play the London Knights in the Memorial Cup Finals on Sunday. It's a good thing the Sea Dogs have learned how to defend, since Shawinigan dropped six goals on Edmonton last night to eliminate them from the tournament. [NHL.com, Station Nation]

● Finally, we wish WTEM (now ESPN 980) a very happy 20th birthday. WTEM was DC's first full-time sports talk radio station. Steve Czaban and Andy Pollin hosted a 3-hour retrospective yesterday. The don't-miss segments: Steve Kolbe, Ken Beatrice, and Rich "Da Coach" Gilgallon. Related: How can it possibly be twenty years already?

Your savory breakfast links:

● The day in year-end reviews:

○ Nicklas Backstrom... [RMNB]

○ ... Roman Hamrlik... [RtR]

○ ... Keith Aucoin... [Peerless]

○ ... and the defensemen. [WaPo]

● "While I'm unemployed." Sasha Syomin apologizes for sleeping through his originally scheduled hometown press conference, then discusses his future plans. [Sport-Express, via GoogleTrans]

● Oooh, shiney - here's a roundup of the best (or at least most interesting) goal from each of the Caps' forwards through the course of the 2011-2012 season. [Caps 101]

● Is it any surprise that Brooks Laich is apparently a Zimmerfan? [OFB]

● The news of the day was all from Pennsylvania:

○ The Caps and the Hershey Bears announced their affiliation extension through the end of the 2012-2013 season with an option for 2013-2014 ... [Patriot-News, SHoE, Caps Outsider]

○ ... and the Bears have re-upped with head coach Mark French and assistant coach Troy Mann.

● The case for Peter Bondra and the Hockey Hall of Fame. [THW]

● Stanislav Galiev scored his first goal of the 2012 Memorial Cup tournament and the Saint John Sea Dogs advance to the semifinal game. They will play the winner of the Cataractes-Oil Kings tiebreaker. [Station Nation]

● Finally, happy 21st birthday to Cody Eakin.

Your savory breakfast links:

● Team Russia finished a perfect 10-0 at the 2012 World Championship, capturing gold with a 6-2 victory over Slovakia. Sasha Syomin was named Man of the Match with two goals and an assist, and Alex Ovechkin dished out two helpers in the win and tried hard to get his 'mate the hat trick. Caps prospect (and 13th forward) Yevgeni Kuznetsov didn't get any game action but seemed to log some quality time chatting up tournament MVP Yevgeni Malkin.

○ Recaps and other assorted musings on the game from IIHF.com, NHL.com, WaPo, Voice of Russia, National Post, Alex Ovetjkin, SB Nation DC, Puck Daddy, USA Today (with postgame interviews), PHT, NESN, RMNB (and pictures), DC Pro Sports Report, Caps B-Ball, and what it all means vis a vis the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi (Eye on Hockey).

● In additional championship tournament action, Stanislav Galiev and the Saint John Sea Dogs will play the WHL champion Edmonton Oil Kings in Game Two of their round-robin phase of the Memorial Cup at 7pm Eastern. For the curious, here's a look at the MemCup scene in Shawinigan, Quebec. [Canoe.ca]

● Meanwhile, back at the Caps' regularly-scheduled offseason, we have reviews for:

○ Goalies ... [DC Pro Sports Report]

○ ... Hammer ... [Peerless]

○ ... Dima ... [Peerless]

○ ... Sarge ... [RtR]

○ ... Squeaks ... [RtR]

○ ... and John Carlson, appearing on these pages this morning at 11.

● In a season of surprises, here are six of the memorable ones. [KOL]

● Today in "Depressing Postseason Questions Asked By Canadian Columnists ..." [Edmonton Journal]

○ ... and Larry Brooks sez Hunter Hockey kept the Caps from advancing, particularly against superior goaltending. [NYPost]

● From the "Caps on Holiday" files, Tom Gorzelanny Jason Chimera threw high heat with the ceremonial first pitch at Sunday's Orioles-Nationals game. [Caps Overtime, CSNW, RMNB, DSP]

● Finally, wishing a happy 33rd birthday to @GrahamMink21, and a happy 64th birthday to Bill Mikkelson.

Your savory breakfast links:

● It was a good news / bad news kind of day for the Caps and Caps' prospects still playing hockey.

● The good news, of course, is that Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, and Evgeny Kuznetsov will be playing for a title in today's World Championship final. The puck will drop on the gold medal match against Slovakia at 1:30pm Eastern.

○ The 6-2 victory over defending champion Finland was powered by a dominant performance by Evgeni Malkin and his hat trick, but Ovechkin chipped in with a lethal snipe and a strong Hunter Hockey two-way game, including laying out to block shots when his team was already up 5-1. [RMNB]

○ Sasha Syomin went pointless, but he's still on board for upping his defensive game. [AllHockey.ru]

○ Birthday boy Kuznetsov was deployed as the thirteenth forward, which meant he had plenty of time to enjoy the action from the Russia bench. He got a little more than two minutes of ice time as the clock wound down in the third and with the outcome no longer in doubt. And guess what? He's fine with that. [AllHockey.ru]

○ Misty Peter Bondra memories as RMNB looks back at the last time Russia and Slovakia met in the gold medal game. [RMNB]

● The bad news: Back in Shawinigan, QC, Stanislav Galiev and the Saint John Sea Dogs experienced their first-ever loss in a Memorial Cup game. Frustrated by bad ice and a disciplined London Knights team, the Dogs top-six were held off the scoreboard and two of their three goals were scored while on the penalty kill. Galiev went 0-0-0, 1 hit, 1 SOG, and was on-ice for two goals against. Their next game is Monday against the WHL champion Edmonton Oil Kings. [Station Nation, Buzzing the Net]

● Finally, happy 47th birthday, Bruce Cassidy!

Your savory breakfast links:

● The search for a new coach will be competing for attention with roster construction and may take some time. [WaPo]

○ The case for Marc Crawford. [Caps Outsider]

○ The case for Bob Hartley and/or Paul Maurice. [Caps 101]

○ The case for Adam Oates. [RtR]

○ The case for Ron Wilson ... [Caps Outsider]

○ ... but please, no. Just no. [Homer McFanboy]

● All this may not matter much anyway, with a labor dispute on the horizon. [Frankovic]

● Jay Beagle gave all. [WashTimes, WaPo]

● John Erskine, by the tens. [Peerless]

● Report card time for Keith Aucoin. [CRtC]

● Braden Holtby? Money. [Inside Hockey]

● The eternal question - what to do with Alexander Semin? [Brooks LaichYear]

○ Here's the case for not giving him $6.7M to score 20 goals. [Dump 'n' Chase]

● In which Evgeny Kuznetsov dominates the year-end Caps' prospect achievement awards. [Hockey's Future]

● In (sigh) international action:

○ Alex Ovechkin got the scoring started for the victorious Team Russia, while Sasha Syomin raised the bids on his KHL contract with a 2-point performance. They advance to the semifinal round and will play against Finland on Saturday. [RMNB, Alex Ovetjkin, Puck Daddy, IIHF]

○ Sadly, Nicklas Bäckström's time at the World Championship has ended all-too-soon, as Sweden was eliminated in the waning seconds of their quarterfinal match with Team Czech. [IIHF]

● The puck drops tonight on the 2012 Memorial Cup in Shawinigan, QC. The only Caps prospect playing in this year's tourney is Stanislav Galiev, who returns to defend last year's title with the reigning champion Saint John Sea Dogs. [Buzzing the Net, Station Nation, SportsNet, NHL.com]

● Finally, happy 53rd birthday to Errol Rausse.

Your savory breakfast links:

● A standing ovation for Dale Hunter. Ah, well. [DC Sports Bog]

○ Legacy. [DCEx, and again]

○ Priorities, priorities. [Patriot-News]

○ To hire: one coach. [RtR, CSNW (video)]

○ Taking a ride on the coaching carousel. [WaPo]

● UFA's spotted over Washington ... [THW]

○ ... Dennis Wideman wants to be back ... [PHT, WaPo]

○ ... one and done for Tomas Vokoun ... [CSNW]

○ ... Jeff Halpern, looking for options ... [WaPo]

○ ... and could Sasha Semin be rocking a Red Wings sweater next season ... [DFP]

○ ... as his agent throws a bucket of water on the burning bridge, and issues his clients' requirements for continuing employment with the Caps. Or any team, for that matter. [106.7 The Fan]

● John Carlson, by the tens. [Peerless]

● On the road to recovery from two injury-riddled season for Mike Green. [KOL]

● Marcus Johansson knows his playoffs could have gone better. [WashTimes]

● Caps on Holiday: Carlson, Brooks Laich, Mathieu Perreault and Joel Ward kicked back with DC United ... [CSNW]

○ ... as John Walton worked on his Natitude ... [@WaltonCaps]

○ ... and Braden Holtby is working the autograph circuit on June 2. [RtR]

● The World Championships are entering the quarterfinal rounds today. Here's a look back at the preliminary rounds ... [Kukla]

○ ... as Alex Ovechkin and Alex Syomin take on Norway at 8:45am Eastern...

○ ... and Nicklas Bäckström has a date with the Czech Republic at 2:15pm.

● Finally, the NHL issued its formal notice yesterday that it intends to renegotiate the Collective Bargaining Agreement that governs its relations with the players. As this will most likely dominate the discussion this summer, let's educate ourselves. [Offside Sports Law Blog, and be sure to follow @EricOnSportsLaw]

Your savory breakfast links:

● It's Breakdown Day. The questions, they loom ... [DCEx, RtR, WaPo, OFB]

○ ... Dale Hunter, for example. London's calling ... [LFP]

○ ... Alexander Semin's future gets potentially more enigmatic as the KHL announces they will suspend their salary cap for one player per team who returns to Russia from the NHL ... [PHT]

○ ... and there's some other guys looking for contracts, with handy chart. [WaPo]

● Unmet expectations ... [WashTimes, DCEx, CSNW]

○ ... and a promising reinvention that still fell short ... [WaPo, NHL.com, THW, Fanspeak.com, Hockey Hourly]

○ ... but ultimately, defeated by the superior team. [WashTimes]

● More appreciation for Braden Holtby. [WaPo, PHT, WashTimes]

● Through two rounds, no team played shorthanded more that the Caps, and lots of other interesting numbers. [RMNB]

● Lies, damn lies, statistics, and Alex Ovechkin [NHLNumbers.com]

● Ovi, Alex Syomin, and Nicklas Bäckström will play for Sbornaya and Tre Kronor at the World Championship. [WashTimes, IIHF, Hockey Ramblings]

● Reflections on a red-rocking rookie season. [Caps B-Ball]

● It was long past time to launder that jersey, gents. [Puck Buddys]

● Media notes: Lots o' Caps radio this morning. You can catch Alan May from 8-10am on ESPN 980, and Braden Holtby will be on WTOP at 8:50am.

● Here's more on David Bondra and his decision to become a Spartan. [Detroit News (video), s/t to sk84fun_DC]

● Programming note: Our annual Rink Wrap feature kicks off today at 11. Karl Alzner is up first, so kennel the dogs and get your gold stars ready.

● Finally, happy 44th birthday to Steve Seftel.

Your savory breakfast links:

● Recaps and other assorted musings on last night's loss from us, Caps365 video (Hunter, Caps players), Vogs, Capitals Voice, NHL.com, WaPo (gamer, blog, blog), WashTimes (gamer, blog, blog), DCEx (gamer, blog), CSNW (gamer, blog), 106.7 The Fan, National Post, SB Nation DC, Puck Daddy, PHT (and again), SI, Peerless, Frankovic, RMNB (gamer, blog), DSP, RtR, and Caps Outsider, and NYT, ESPN NY, NYDN, NYPost, Ranger Rants, NYRB, and Blueshirt Banter from the Rangers' side of things.

● Lose a series, gain an identity. Okay then. [WaPo]

● The same but different. And the same. [ESPN, KOL]

● No shortage of questions in DC. No kidding. [SunMedia, Puckhead, RMNB]

● Whither Dale Hunter and Dale Hunter Hockey™? [Puck Daddy, WashTimes, NHL.com, BS, DCEx]

● Their goalie was better than our goalie, this game ... [WaPo, WashTimes]

○ ... but our goalie was and will be pretty damn good. [SI, SportingNews, CSNW]

● The sharks begin to circle 'round the free-agent blood in the water ... [THW, Toronto Sun]

○ ... and Mike Knuble wants you to know ... the fires, they burn. [PHT]

● Thanks to all who donated to the beard-a-thon. The money and the good vibes will be put to good use.

● Finally, Craig Laughlin was hoping the boys could win one for the Hipper. We wish him a full and speedy recovery and we know his hips will come back to training camp in the best shape of their lives. [DC Sports Bog]

Your savory breakfast links:

● Notes and assorted whatnot from a quiet yet newsworthy off-day out at Kettler:

○ In general. [Caps365 video (Rinkside Update, Hunter, Laich, Carlson), Backstrom on NHL Live]

○ Jay Beagle is listed as day-to-day with a lower body injury but it doesn't sound particularly promising. [WaPo, WashTimes, DCEx]

○ Brooks Laich's comments kicked off Matt Hendricks Appreciation Day ... [NHL.com, WaPo, DCEx, PHT]

○ ... Jason Chimera Appreciation Day ... [WashTimes, Dump 'n' Chase]

○ ... Dale Hunter Appreciation Day ... [WaPo, TSN (video), National Post, Globe and Mail, PHT, DC Sports Bog]

○ ... oh, it was also Alex Ovechkin Appreciation Day ... [NYT, Fox Sports, TSN (plus video 1, 2), SportsNet.ca, Globe and Mail, Steve Dangle (video)]

○ ... and why not? Let's have Marco Sturm Appreciation Day ... [Homer McFanBoy]

○ ... but above all it was Hooray! Braden Holtby is a Daddy! Day. Congratulations to Braden and Brandi, and welcome Benjamin Hunter Holtby. [WaPo, DCEx, RMNB, Hockey Hourly, Puck Daddy, PHT]

● Notes from the Rangers' end of the ice:

○ Henrik Lundqvist's glove hand is just fine, thankyouverymuch. [Blue Seat Blogs]

○ And hey! Lay off Coach Tortorella, already. [The Rangers Tribune]

● This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around. [OFB, WaPo]

● It's about time. Isn't it? [WashTimes]

● Karl Alzner chats up Gerry Dee and talks about game day food. [The Score (video)]

● Braden Holtby has upped his game by calming down. [Caps Examiner]

● Former Caps bench boss Bruce Boudreau is extended through 2015 with the Anaheim Ducks and is ready to take them to the next level. [OC Register]

● Congrats are in order for Stanislav Galiev, who wrapped up the 2012 QMJHL playoffs with a three-goal, two-assist performance as the Saint John Sea Dogs captured their second consecutive President's Cup with an 8-0 victory over the Rimouski Oceanic. Next stop - Shawinigan and the Dogs' defense of their Memorial Cup. [Station Nation, Buzzing the Net]

● Game Seven. Give.

● Finally, happy 43rd birthday to Todd Nelson, the Caps' all-time leader in goals-per-game by a blueliner (tied). And yes, we used that line last year, too.

Your savory breakfast links:

● Recaps and other assorted musings on yesterday's win from us, Caps365 video (Hunter, Caps players, Chimera on NHL Live, Tortorella, Rangers players), Vogs, Capitals Voice, NHL.com, WashTimes (gamer, blog, blog, blog), WaPo (gamer, shot chart, photos), DCEx (gamer, blog), CSNW (gamer, blog), 106.7 The Fan, SB Nation DC, Puck Daddy (and again), PHT, Backhand Shelf, SN (and again), SI, USA Today, NYT, NYPost, TSN, Frankovic, Peerless, RMNB (blog, blog, blog, blog), DSP, KOL, OFB, Sick Unbelievable, RtR, Puckhead, Pass Shoot Score, Caps Examiner, Hockey Hourly and clydeorama (pics).

○ DMV, represent. [@RGIII, @John_Wall]

○ Alex Ovechkin has tied Peter Bondra on the Caps' all-time leaderboard for career playoff goals. [Sick Unbelievable]

○ Braden Holtby's mom remained awesome ... [DC Sports Bog]

○ ... and so did he. [NYT, Puck Drunk Love]

○ Something about playing the Rangers sends Jason Chimera into a goal-scoring frenzy. [KOL]

○ In excelsis Ovi. [NYDN, WaPo, DC Sports Bog]

○ More than just discipline and resolve. [HNIC, WaPo, NHL.com, National Post]

○ Mirror mirror on the wall. Who's the Game Seven-iest of them all? [Sporting News, WashTimes, NHL.com]

○ Dale Hunter Hockey: Confounding hockey pundits since November 2011, or possibly Game Two of the Boston series. [Puck Daddy]

● Elliotte Friedman bring us his thirty thoughts. [CBC.ca]

● Ovechkin chili? Ovechkin chili. [NBC4]

● Caption this, overtime edition. [Homer McFanboy]

● Finally, The Captain's ride has a new look. [Mr. Irrelevant]

Your savory breakfast links:

● Previews of today's Game 5 with the Rangers from Vogs, NHL.com, Peerless, RMNB, KOL and CRtC, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Blueshirt Banter for more coverage from the other side of tonight's match-up and throughout the series.

● Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday out at Kettler:

○ In general. [Caps365 video (Rinkside Update, Hunter, Ovechkin, Holtby, Green, Carlson, Laich), WaPo, WashTimes, NHL.com, RtR, RMNB (pics)]

○ Power play, ahoy. [WaPo, WashTimes, Newsday]

○ The block party continues apace. [WaPo, WSJ, Sporting News, NHL.com]

○ Some offensive adjustments paid dividends in Game 4. [WashTimes]

○ Is it better to be lucky than good? The Caps have been a little of both ... [WaPo, WashTimes]

○ ... and ESPN's Scott Burnside sez the things they've been doing are working ... [CSNW (video)]

○ ... and NHL.com's Dave Lozo likes what he sees. [CSNW (video)]

○ Nick Backstrom has taken a page from the Book of Foppa. [WashTimes, CSNW, DCEx, THW]

○ Shorter Brooks Laich: "R-E-S-P-E-C-T." [CBC.ca]

○ Less is more for Alex Ovechkin. [National Post]

○ 5 v 5 goals are the Caps' key to success per Barry Melrose. Plus a healthy dose of healthy Bäckis. [ESPN (video)]

● Notes from the Rangers' end of the ice:

○ Key to Game Five: Getting shots on net. And getting past the shot-blockers. [NYDN, NYPost, NHL.com]

○ A tight, hard-hitting series? Been there, done that. [NYT]

○ Why the Blueshirts will win it all. [Daily Freeman]

○ And why they won't. [Cult of Hockey]

○ Oh, no! Don't go, big mo. [WFAN]

○ Pictures, thousand words, etc. [SNYR blog].

○ Haters better start hatin'. [The Record]

● John Walton has had a heck of a ride in his first season in The Show ... [WaPo]

● ... as have the other Hershey grads in the organization ... [Patriot-News]

● ... Like Jay Beagle, for example. [Caps Outsider]

● Apparently Dale Hunter has some sort of connection to Canadian major junior hockey. [Hamilton Spectator, NatPo]

● At least five of the nitwits who tweeted racist slurs following Game Seven are facing disciplinary actions at their high school. [Deadspin, Gloucester Times, MSNBC]

● 'Cos everyone's crazy for a sharp-dressed man. [Sick Unbelievable]

● Beard ... donate!

● Happy 32nd birthday to Lawrence Nycholat, and happy 56th birthday to Tony Cassolato.

● Hip check: The Rink wishes Craig Laughlin a full and speedy recovery as he heads down the tunnel for repairs.

Your savory breakfast links:

● Recaps and other assorted musings on yesterday's win from us, Caps365 video (Hunter, Caps players, Green, Tortorella, Rangers players), Vogs, Capitals Voice, NHL.com, WashTimes (gamer, blog, blog), WaPo (gamer, blog, shot chart, Page A1), DCEx, CSNW (gamer, blog), 106.7 The Fan, SB Nation DC, Puck Daddy, PHT, Frankovic, Peerless, RMNB (gamer, blog, blog), DSP, KOL, OFB (and again), RtR, Puckhead, Caps Examiner, Cap Centre, Hockey Hourly, NY Daily News (pics) and clydeorama (pics).

○ Changes in attitude ... [WaPo, ESPN]

○ ... changes in Natitude ... [Pass Shoot Score, WaPo]

○ ... nothing remains quite the same ... [WashTimes, Sporting News]

○ ... with some horses a'running and a bit older gunning ... [Caps Outsider, Puck Daddy]

○ ... momentum shifts keep us all in the game. [NY Daily News, NYPost]

● Alex Ovechkin on Dan Girardi. Discuss. Or don't. [WaPo, WashTimes, CSNW, Puck Daddy, PHT, NY Daily News, NHL.com, NY Post]

● Braden Holtby, getting plenty of help ... [NHL.com]

● ... and a pretty awesome video. [FanShot]

● A little prospect news:

○ Stanislav Galiev and the Saint John Sea Beasts are halfway to the QMJHL Championship, having won their first game in double overtime and the second in regulation. Stas' assist in Game One tied him with Mike Bossy in all-time Q career playoff points at 73. With five more points he can shake hands with Claude Giroux.

● Finally, happy 62nd birthday to Bob Gryp.

Your savory breakfast links:

● Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday's "coach and spare goalies day" out at Kettler:

○ In general. [Caps365 video (Hunter), Tortorella (conference call audio)]

○ ‘[N]o video, no nothing.’ The team got the day off from hockey. [WaPo]

○ Oli Kolzig sez Braden Holtby will be just fine. [WashTimes, PHT]

○ The few players on-ice at Kettler were members of the freshly called-up Black Aces squad. [KOL]

● Notes from the Rangers' end of the ice:

○ The night Ryan McDonagh took all of Stu Bickel's ice time. [National Post, WashTimes]

○ Reversing a trend of losing playoff OT games feels pretty good. Gah. [NYDN]

○ Ryan Callahan, captain. [NYPost]

● Let's hope Karl Alzner likes talking about his dogs, because they are some kind of famous now ... [Puck Daddy, PHT, Eye on Hockey, BS, USA Today, MSN, Capital Games]

○ ... as are Ma and Pa Holtby. [Puck Daddy]

● Confidence, the Caps haz it. [NYPost]

● Reflections on Game 3. [NatPo, A Gal for All Seasons]

○ Two looks at the game-winner. [BS, MHH]

○ Mike Vogel recalls previous overtime losses in Caps' franchise history. This one feels different ... [Dump 'n' Chase]

○ ... just ask the Caps' assistant equipment manager, who's also seen all those brutal multi-OT losses ... [WaPo]

○ ... or read here, where the past is prologue and the scars never fade. [OFB]

○ Om nom nom. Three overtimes meant takeout bananas and white rice with soy sauce. [WashTimes, PHT]

○ The extra hour of Metro cost $29,500 ... and the team may pick up part of the tab. [WaPo]

○ Boffo box office - playoff hockey outdrew playoff basketball for the first time in like, ever. [Half Smokes]

● Nice to meet you, Mr. Inflatable-Caps-player-on-my-roof-in-Georgetown Man. [DC Sports Bog]

● Pierre McGuire and Barry Melrose, it is on. [DC Sports Bog]

● Here's your daily call to beardly charitable action.

● Finally, the puck drops a 6 tonight for Game One in Harbour Station as the Saint John Sea Beasts will work to repeat as QMJHL champions against the Rimouski Oceanic.

Your savory breakfast links:

● Recaps and other assorted musings on yesterday's triple overtime loss from us, Caps365 video (Hunter, Caps players, Tortorella), Vogs, Capitals Voice, NHL.com, WashTimes (gamer, blog, photos), WaPo (gamer, blog, shot chart), DC Sports Bog, DCEx, CSNW (gamer, blog), 106.7 The Fan, SB Nation DC, Puck Daddy, PHT (and again), ESPN, SI, USA Today, Sporting News, Backhand Shelf, Frankovic, Peerless, RMNB, DSP, OFB (and again), RtR, Puckhead, and Caps B-Ball.

○ In which Matt Hendricks blows up Ryan McDonagh. [RMNB, Deadspin, BS]

○ Ma and Pa Holtby are teh awesome. [DC Sports Bog, SB Nation]

○ Karl Alzner's dogs were none too pleased with the loss. [@karlalzner]

○ It's not the heat, it's the humidity. [PHT]

● Getting to know Jay Beagle's game. [Backhand Shelf]

● Thirty thoughts with an extra big helping of Caps. [CBC.ca]

● Remembering Junior Seau and his week as an equipment manager for the Caps. Rest well, Junior. [SB Nation DC, Ted's Take]

● One year ago yesterday, Caps fans walked out of the Verizon Center after a difficult Round 2 loss to the Lightning - and stepped into history. [Washingtonian]

● Playoff beard check. And playoff beard check. [DSP]

● Finally, happy birthday wishes go out to Rod Langway as he turns 55, Jeff Halpern as he turns 36, and Robbie Moore as he turns 57.

Your savory breakfast links:

● Previews of today's Game 2 with the Rangers from Vogs, NHL.com, CSNW (video), PHT (video), Peerless and RtR, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Blueshirt Banter for more coverage from the other side of tonight's match-up and throughout the series.

● Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday's Caps practice at the Garden:

○ In general. [Caps365 video (Rinkside Update, Hunter, Ovechkin, Holtby, Ward, Brouwer, Johansson), WaPo, WashTimes, CRtC]

○ ZOMG Alexander Semin is ON THE FOURTH LINE. With a WHITE SWEATER AN' EV'RYTHING. [WaPo, WashTimes, CSNW, DCEx, Sun Media, CBSSports]

○ Time to ramp up the intensity ... [NHL.com, WaPo]

○ ... and Brooks Laich is on it ... [CSNW, PHT]

○ ... while the Captain is working on some speed issues. [WashTimes, CSNW]

○ Whither Dima? [WashTimes]

○ Lessons. Learned. [NHL.com]

● Notes from the Rangers' end of the ice:

○ Brian Boyle practices, briefly; Brandon Dubinsky is on crutches. [PHT]

○ Youth is served ... [NY Daily News]

○ ... or perhaps defense. [NorthJersey.com]

○ Something something Chris Kreider something. [Prospect Park and well, everybody]

○ Steve Eminger talks about his day as a forward, and Brandon Prust explains the NYR PK. [Blueshirts United (video)]

● Karl Alzner has been switching sticks. And then switching 'em back. King Karl explains. [Hockey Hourly]

● Dear Diary: "[I]f it’s free, it’s for me." Jay Beagle cashes in on a bet with Matt Hendricks. [WaPo]

● Alex Ovechkin's falling production is a mystery wrapped in an enigma jammed into a post full of #fancystats. [MC79 Hockey]

● The pride and joy of Lloydminster Saskatchewan Alberta Saskberta - Braden Holtby, bringing people together ... [DCEx]

● ... but oh dear. He's put the Caps in a bit of a pickle. [WaPo]

● Now that the Hershey Bears' season is done, who might the Caps choose to call up? [SHoE]

● Derek Jeter has an open invite to come watch some hockey. [@karlalzner]

● Taking a look at Tomas Vokoun's gamble. [Kukla's Korner]

● General Hunter, sir yes sir. [Caps B-Ball]

● There's a new hockey book out that looks pretty interesting - Breakaway: The Untold Story of Hockey's Great Escapes collects the stories of players trying to get free of the Iron Curtain. [Hockey Book Reviews]

● Here's your daily call to beardly charitable action.

● Finally, some interesting notes on prospect forward Stanislav Galiev. First, with 72 points, he sits atop the Q playoff points list for all active players and the Sea Dogs' team leaderboard for all-time playoff scoring. And he is also quietly making a push up the QMJHL all-time playoffs goal scoring list. His two goals on Saturday give him 30 total and vaulted him over Mike Bossy. Four more goals and he'll tie his coach, Gerard Gallant. But he'll have to work harder to catch his teammate, Florida Panthers prospect Jonathan Huberdeau, who has 36. [QMJHL Histoire et Records]

Your savory breakfast links:

● Recaps and other assorted musings on yesterday's loss from us, Caps365 video (Hunter, Caps players), Vogs, Capitals Voice, NHL.com, WashTimes (gamer), WaPo (gamer, blog, photos, shot chart), DCEx (gamer, blog), CSNW (gamer, blog, blog), 106.7 The Fan, SB Nation DC, Puck Daddy, PHT, SI, Backhand Shelf, Frankovic, Peerless, RMNB (gamer, blog), DSP, KOL, OFB, RtR, Caps Outsider, Puckhead, Hockey Hourly and Red Line Station.

○ Rookie goaltender is suddenly rookie. [PHT, WaPo (and again), WashTimes]

○ Brooks Laich can haz saucer pass? Jason Chimera can haz goal. [PHT, RMNB, Eye on Hockey]

○ Breaking down the Mike Green breakdown. [Sun Media]

○ Shift-by-shift-by-doubleteaming Alex Ovechkin with Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh. [NHL.com]

● Sadly, the Hershey Bears' 2011-2102 season has come to an end with a 2-1 loss at Mohegan Sun Arena to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. [Patriot-News, SHoE, Caps Outsider, Chirps]

● Two Russians with Caps connections helped their teams win yesterday, but unfortunately neither of them was named Alex:

○ Stanislav Galiev buried the overtime, game- and-series-winning goal that sends the Saint John Sea Beasts to its third consecutive QMJHL championship round ... [Station Nation, QMJHL.com (and video highlights)]

○ ... and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the first goal for Team Russia and an ultimate 4-2 win over Sweden in their World Championship tune-up tournament. He had been held pointless vs. Finland. [EuroHockey.com]

● Finally, happy 32nd birthday to Mathieu Biron.

Your savory breakfast links:

● Previews of today's Game 1 with the Rangers from Vogs, NHL.com, WaPo, CRtC and ESPN NY, and be sure to check out Friend o' the Rink Scotty Hockey and our SB Nation partner Blueshirt Banter for more coverage from the other side of today's match-up.

● Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday's Caps practice:

○ In general. [Caps365 video (Rinkside Update, Hunter, Ovechkin, Holtby, Backstrom, Laich, Chimera, Ward), NHL.com, WaPo, WashTimes, CSNW, 106.7 The Fan DC, DCEx, Puck Buddys (pics)]

○ The Caps got they swagga back. Or maybe just a quiet confidence ... [WaPo]

○ ... and they are in it to win it. [WaPo]

○ Joel Ward is still processing the last 72 hours ... [WaPo (and again), DC Sports Bog, WashTimes (and again), DCEx, CSNW, 106.7 The Fan]

○ ... and hey, his 'mates have his back. [WashTimes]

○ Who has two thumbs and a super Round One series in the books? This guy! [WashTimes (and again)]

○ Cool as the other side of the pillow, is Braden Holtby. [WashTimes]

○ The reports of Dale Hunter's coaching demise are greatly exaggerated. [Dump 'n' Chase]

○ Jay Beagle savors a good win. [WaPo]

○ But isn't Sasha Semin always an 'X-Factor?" [NHL.com]

○ Mistakes were made. [WaPo via @wyshynski]

● Notes from the Rangers' end of the ice:

○ Injury Report: Brian Boyle and Brandon Dubinsky are questionable for today's game. [NY Post]

○ Pregame notes and media guide. [NY Rangers]

○Five keys to defeating the Caps. [ESPN NY]

○ This time, it's personal. [NY Daily News]

● The hockey press still wants to be held by Holtby ... [NYT, THN, NHL.com, SportsNet, Coaches' Corner, Blue Seats Blog (scouting report)]

○ ... but have a look at this Round One scoring chance save% comparison chart. Hmm. [Eye on Hockey]

● Predictions (and series previews):

○ Rangers in seven. [Red Light District, HNIC,The Rhino Report, @bmcnally14, Sergey Gimaev]

○ Rangers in six. [Rangers Report, THW, NorthJersey.com, NY Newsday, USA Today, The Hockey News, ESPN]

○ Rangers in five. [...]

○ Rangers in four (yes, really). [The Fourth Period via Blue Line Station]

○ Caps in six. [Peerless, Mishka Bloglin, Buffalo News, Frankovic, Soviet Sport]

○Caps in seven. [CBS Sports, THW]

○ Roundtables with too many predictions to compile ... [Japers' Rink, Puck Daddy, Eye on Hockey, Caps Outsider, PHT]

○ ... and series previews without predictions. [Globe and Mail, New York Magazine, SB Nation, DSP, PHT, Puck 'n' Hockey, The New York Rangers Blog via BrooksLaichYear]

● Actually, it's more than a series. [Sick Unbelievable]

● Invitation to a block party. [PHT, WashTimes]

● The London, Ontario press is looking forward to the Hunter/Torts pressers. Or not. [LFP]

● "The quality of Dale is that he is not bluffing." Quebec-based scouts have some thoughts on the Caps' new style. [LeSoleil via somewhat-tortured GTrans]

● The Hershey Bears staved off elimination for the second game in a row and will play tonight for the chance to move on to Round Two of the Calder Cup Playoffs. [Patriot-News, SHoE, Caps Outsider, Chirps, Sports Burger, Pens Insider]

● Playoff beard check! Don't forget to stop by and donate. [DSP]

Your savory breakfast links:

●The "waiting" is over as the New York Rangers prevailed over the Ottawa Senators in their series and will host the Caps in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals this Saturday at 3pm. [NHL.com, RMNB]

○ Haven't we been here before? [Dump ' Chase, Japers' Rink, WaPo, WashTimes, CSNW, 106.7 The Fan, CRtC]

○ Caps-Rangers, Devils-Flyers. It's an all-Patrick Division quarterfinals. [@VogsCaps]

○ The Caps beat last-year's-model Blueshirts in 5. Meet this-year's-model. [KOL, RMNB]

○ Get yer popcorn ready for another round of the Alex Ovechkin - Henrik Lundqvist Show. [PHT]

● Wrapping up the Boston series:

○ One-stop shopping: The ultimate highlight package. [Capitals Voice]

○ A new style? The Caps haz it. [106.7 The Fan, PHT, BGlobe, WashTimes, WaPo, OFB, Homer McFanboy, Peerless]

○ "George McPhee defeats the Bruins in Seven." [THW]

○ Ratings for Caps-Bruins: Boffo. [DC Sports Bog, Puck the Media (and again)]

● Wrapping up the racism directed at Joel Ward after his overtime game- and series-winning goal:

○Ted Leonsis statement. [Ted's Take]

○The Boston Bruins' statement. [Bruins]

○Everyone else has their say. [Caps Outsider, TSN, Faceoff.com]

● Finally, happy 24th birthday to Semyon Varlamov.