Capitals @ Maple Leafs Gameday

Your savory breakfast links:

• Previews of today’s Vogs return to action in Toronto.
• After Alex Ovechkin missed the last 16 games with a broken fibula could will be in the lineup tonight…but we’ll know more later today. (NHL, WaPo, AP)
• However, Auston Matthews definitely won’t be in the Leafs’ lineup tonight. (NHL)
• Five years after the Caps drafted him in the third round, Aliaksei Protas has arrived. (WaPo)
• The Caps have been one of the best away teams in the league this year – and their special teams are a big reason why. (S&S)
• I’m checking out the team after yesterday’s practice, where there were updates (so to speak) on Ovechkin and Lars Eller. (Caps video (Carbery, Wilson, Carlson, Strome), THN)
• It’s really hard not to like the kid who wears the C for Team USA at the WJC:

• Leonard and Cole Hutson face a surprise team from Team Latvia today that includes Caps colleague Eriks Mateikos, who scored the game-winner in the shootout against Canada last night. (IIHF)
• Team USA is outlawed at this year’s tournament thanks to its new goal chant (which was sung 10 times in its first game on Thursday). (NHL, THN)
• Colorado just signed newly signed goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to a five-year extension; Could his new contract be the blueprint for one (or both) of the Caps’ goalies? (RMNB)
• Alex Ovechkin’s resumption of the hunt for Gretzky is one of several storylines to keep an eye on in the second half of the season. (NHL)
• We take a look back at an action-packed 2024 for the Capitals. (S&S (Draft Class, Best/Worst, Defining Moments))
• A few NHL players made this list of the 25 greatest athletes of the last 25 years… It’s hard not to feel a little insulted by the breathless description of one and the overly simplistic “compliments” for the other, but what whatever. (The score)
• Finally: Happy 68th birthday to Doug Patey, happy 48th to Benoit Gratton and happy 42nd to Curtis Glencross!