Daily Washington Capitals news and notes: Ovechkin participates fully in yesterday’s practice, goaltending thoughts and more.
Your savory breakfast links:
- Get to know more of the Caps’ Round 1 opponents: Joe Thornton and Aleksander Barkov. [Rink]
- The Washington Capitals recalled goaltender Zach Fucale from Hershey yesterday. [Caps, WHN, NoVa Caps, RMNB, S+S]
- Alex Ovechkin looks ready to go for the Washington Capitals come Game 1. [WaPo ($), Athletic ($), NBCSW, RMNB]
- Other bits and bobs from the Caps’ first postseason practice yesterday, including some player interviews. [Caps video (Coach Laviolette, Backstrom, Orlov, Wilson, Ovechkin), WHN, NoVa Caps]
- A snapshot of the Capitals overall in the final quarter of the season. [RMNB]
- This Round 1 matchup with the Florida Panthers will not be easy, but it is not all doom and gloom for the Caps. [NoVa Caps]
- This postseason will be a big test for Evgeny Kuznetsov. [S+S]
- Like last year, Coach Laviolette will be keeping Washington’s netminding situation for Game 1 under wraps. [NBCSW]
- Vitek Vanecek has done enough to prove he deserves the postseason starting nod. [S+S]
- A playoff preview with bold predictions for all 16 teams. [ESPN]
- The odds might be stacked against them, but the Caps can still win the Cup. [S+S]
- In news from Sunrise, defenseman Aaron Ekblad was back on the ice for the Panthers yesterday. [FHN]
- Finally, happy 43rd birthday to Jason Chimera and happy 30th birthday to Stanley Cup champ Brett Connolly!