Saturday Caps Clips: Another Week Bites the Dust

Your savory breakfast links:

• The League announced yesterday that the schedule through November 1 has now been cancelled, which can only be considered mildly surprising... and then only because of the relatively small number of dates s-canned this time around. [Puck Daddy, WaPo, CSNW, PHT]
• It sounds as if the lingering contractual deets have been ironed out and Nicklas Backstrom is all systems go in Moscow, where the gap-toothed chairman of the welcoming committee is doing his thing. [RMNB, Alex Ovetjkin (and again), Dynamo (pics), CSNW, USA Today, VChillin]
• News and views from Lockoutland, where I believe we're at PUCKCON 2:
  • Bad faith negotiating, unsurprisingly, does not advance the ball, err, puck. [Puck Daddy]
  • But if you're looking for reasons for optimism, look at actions, not words. [mc79hockey]
  • On the leaders, Gary Bettman... [Sportsnet]
    
  • ... and his chief adversary, Donald Fehr. [Globe and Mail]
  • Other assorted interesting reads abound (one of the few positives of the lockout - good writing about it). [Backhand Shelf (and again), NHL Numbers, Hockey Analysis]
• Wojtek Wolski made his debut back in Poland. [eSanok, gwizdek24 via Google Trans]
• The Kettler crowd is shrinking. [CSN]
• A game worn Alex Ovechkin sweater from the Winter Classic can be yours if... the price is right. [Classic Auctions]
• Speaking of Ovi's gear, a look at his rather fitting - like a glove, in fact - tribute to his late brother. [RMNB]
• ESPN's KHL ratings, like the product itself, is rather "meh." [Puck Daddy]
• Braden Holtby is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury in Hershey, so Philipp Grubauer has been called up (and could make his AHL debut this weekend). [Capitals]
• Speaking of the Bears, they got their first win of the season, thanks to a big time performance in net from Dany Sabourin. [Dump 'n Chase, Patriot-News, SHoE]
  
• Oh, and it sounds as if Dmitry Orlov blew up some dude with a hip check early in that tilt. [Stucc's Glove and Blogger]
• Finally, happy 34th birthday to Mike Farrell.