‘Wizard of Auz’ is close to making the Caps, NHL begins cracking down on faceoff and slashing violations, Caps release promotional schedule, bad news for former Cap Zach Sanford, preparations for the Canadiens game, separating Ovechkin and Backstrom and more in this evening’s Capitals links: 

CAPITALS

👉 Caps Fall to Devils in Exhibition Opener. (Mike Vogel/Caps)

👉 Caps plan to split Ovechkin and Backstrom to start the season. (Washington Post)

👉 Ovechkin, Kuznetsov set to start the season on a line together. (CSNMA)

👉 Under pressure: Increases pressures face Ovechkin and Kuznetsov this season. (NoVa Caps)

👉 Interview: Nathan Walker on the cusp of making NHL roster. (Grass Roots Sports)

👉 Capitals get acquainted with stricter standards for faceoff s and slashing in preseason opener. (Washington Post)

👉 Australian forward Nathan Walker proves an early favorite to make Caps roster. (Washington Post)

👉 Roykas Marthinsen lives out fantasy during Capitals training camp. (NHL)

👉 Capitals Announce 2017-18 Promotional Schedule. (Capitals)

👉 There’s a spot on the Caps’ blue line waiting for Madison Bowey. Will he seize it? (CSNMA)

👉 T.J. Oshie raises more than $20k for the Alzheimer’s Association in honour of his father. (Bardown)

👉 Capitals using offseason reshuffling as motivation in quest for Stanley Cup. (USA Today)

👉 Inside the numbers: how the first preseason game affects the Capitals training camp Battles. (NoVa Caps)

👉 Metropolitan Division prospects on the bubble. (Fanrag)

👉 Capitals preseason opener features slew of penalties. (NoVa Caps)

👉 Holtby Talks Korn, Leadership & Expectations. (The Hockey Writers)

👉 Caps Today – 9/19/2017 (Capitals)

👉 Reminder! Washington Capitals to Host NHL Centennial Fan Arena Sept. 22-23. (Caps)

👉 All of the morning clips from Japers Rink.

Oshie working on puck deflections pic.twitter.com/PBx8KBRZ5A

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) September 19, 2017

AROUND THE LEAGUE

👉 Devils’ Brian Boyle diagnosed with type of leukemia. (Sportsnet)

👉 NHL begins crackdown on slashing, faceoffs. (TSN)

👉 Sanford, Bouwmeester sidelined with injuries. (NHL.com)

👉 Canucks practice through heavy fog in Shanghai arena. (The Score)

👉 Schneider goes undercover as usher, gifts signed jersey to fan. (NHL.com)

👉 Duchene, Tavares and Eichel playing the waiting game. (TSN)

👉 Roman Josi named Preds captain. (ESPN)

CAPITALS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Sounds like we might see a lot of Kuzy/Ovi and Nicky/Oshie combinations in the top six this season. #CapsCamppic.twitter.com/byJicyY7FL

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 19, 2017

Rinkside Update | Caps’ face-off expert, Jay Beagle, comments on last night’s face-off confusion. #CapsCamppic.twitter.com/OwAJeJI65v

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 19, 2017

What a beautiful sight! pic.twitter.com/1C3WcJUUg6

— Zack Fisch (@zackfisch) September 19, 2017

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First time at #kettlercapitalsiceplex Thanks for such a great day! #hockeyseason #hockeymakesmehappy #jaybeagle #brooksorpik

A post shared by Mandy Rosenfelt (@kuzybecackling) on Sep 18, 2017 at 7:14pm PDT

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Time to catch up | Washington Capitals Training Camp 🏒⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #Capitals #WashingtonCapitals #Caps #DC #IceHockey #Hockey #NHL #ProfessionalHockey #ProfessionalPhotographer #SportsPhotographer #Sports #RockTheRed #MetropolitanDivision #becauseitsthecup #stanleycup #nikonusa #nikonsports #bauerhockey #DCFamily #acreativedc #isitoctoberyet #behindthescenes #nikon #nikonusa #commercialphotography #letsgocaps

A post shared by Patrick McDermott (@pdmphoto) on Sep 19, 2017 at 2:12pm PDT