Have Faith. It's All We Got.

by Stephen Pepper on Apr 23, 2009 4:45 PM EDT

While the Washington Capitals, on the brink of this post-season's extinction, are likely doing a lot of soul searching, I did a lot of fan soul searching myself last night and this morning.

This team has shown more promise, and has been more hyped, I daresay, than any that I've ever followed during the last two decades. That makes the prospect of such an abrupt playoff collapse, a train wreck right out of the station, particularly painful. This is not your historically typical lunch pail bunch of Caps playing above their abilities. This was supposed to be (and maybe still is) a real contender.

So now we're left with nothing but blind faith.

I admit to having struggled with the decision to attend Game 5 tomorrow. For me up here in Gotham, that obviously involves a roughly seven-hour round tripper, and an overnight stay. Significant time and expense, testing my devotion.

I went so far as to craft a plan to sell my ticket (ideally to a Capitals fan) which, given the manner of distribution to me, proved difficult. At that moment, it was as if the divine breathed new life into me, willed that I should make the pilgrimage to our D.C. temple of hockey one more time.

We should not quit now. There's nothing to be gained from giving up early. Life is best lived exploring and experiencing, taking some risks, and holding fast to that faith. Steeling oneself against disappointment will not make it any less upsetting.

If it happens.

I wrote earlier this spring about what would make this Caps season a successful one. Many of us envisioned a level of success far beyond winning the first round. Even that modest accomplishment is very much, at least statistically, in jeopardy.

My mind wandered into a thicket of repetitive, poisonous thoughts, ones which worked at convincing me that such a playoff collapse as this team squarely faces would be an ultimate, irreversible betrayal, a sweeping eradication of everything celebratory and worthwhile which is derived from Caps fandom -- certainly during this campaign. A vicious rebuke of all of the investments that I've made as a blogger and as a fan. (And I don't think that this delusion was caused by the rotgut whiskey I was initially served at our game watch bar last night, under the guise of Maker's Mark.)

And then I realized just how much fun it has been to follow this team to this point. And how much fun it still could be. How many games I attended and watched this season, savoring victory. How many third period, and overtime, game winning tallies. How many stunning individual accomplishments achieved by our heroes. Records broken. NHL debuts made instant classics. Those were wonderful memories, and nothing that happens tomorrow can take that measure of success away. And, of course, all that talent assembled is still here . . .

But more importantly, I don't want to cast away that feeling of hope that tingles my spine and fills my heart. The sun still rose this morning. Our team is still alive. We love sport, and this sublime game of hockey, because anything can happen.

Anything.

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We’ve got 3 games left. We just have to win ’em all!

by DrinkingPartner on Apr 23, 2009 4:57 PM EDT reply actions

I like to look at it like this: The Rangers still have to beat us one more time. Despite everything, we’re a damn good team, the best in this Caps fans memory, and we’ve still got a good chance.

by Pivonka, Michael Ridley on Apr 23, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I will believe until forever. I believe there is a song whose title and chorus might best express this sentiment. Can’t for the life of me remember what it’s called though…

The keyboard is mightier.

by breed16 on Apr 23, 2009 5:01 PM EDT reply actions

UNLEASH THE FURY!

but don’t throw things on to the ice if we lose, have some classs

by snowburnt on Apr 23, 2009 5:03 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs

Are you quoting some new Caps ad we haven’t seen yet for Game 5?

by Icebat on Apr 23, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions

If that’s an obscure Yngwie Malmsteen reference then you just got +1000 points…

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Apr 23, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

If we do lose, remember why we have a guy under a 13 year deal, and will probably get at least two other long contracts done next season.

by red army line on Apr 23, 2009 5:16 PM EDT reply actions

I posted a video response to Mike Wise over on CI.

Link

by Ovechwin on Apr 23, 2009 5:22 PM EDT reply actions

It’s all about how I think that the caps have defied the odds all season long and will hopefully continue to do so.

And SP I always enjoy reading your posts!

by Ovechwin on Apr 23, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d call your piece the Audacity of Hope.

I BELIEVE

by vt caps fan on Apr 23, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions

2 minutes for falling at the altar of a guy whose first choice was to go to a crappy basketball game instead of a good hockey game.

Most creative rue-ing gets a puppy?

by Bald Pollack on Apr 24, 2009 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Gotta dig a hole before you can make a stirring comeback. There is no doubt that the respective talent levels of the current combatants closely parallel those of the teams that came back to finish the Caps from down 3-1.

And if it don’t happen, it will add urgency to make real repairs to the roster. I daresay that close observers of this team have a unanimous opinion that the Caps need more grit and heart up front and an upgrade to the defensive corps. We’re probably more likely to get that faster with a flameout this year.

We’ll see.

by fat_daddyo on Apr 23, 2009 5:34 PM EDT reply actions

The best approach I’ve ever heard on how to deal being down 3-1 is to just approach it like the NCAA tournament. Win and you advance. If the Caps win on Friday (which I feel supremely confident they will) all the pressure shifts to NY. And I’m a firm believer that sooner or later, luck will turn and talent will prevail. But first they have to win Friday. Nothing else matters.

by b.orr4 on Apr 23, 2009 5:57 PM EDT reply actions

In 1980, the Edmonton Oilers were swept by Philly in the first round.
In 1981, the Oilers made it to the second round, where they lost to the Isles.
In 1982, the Oilers lost in the first round to a so-so Kings team.
In 1983, the Oilers made it to the finals, where they lost.
in 1984, they won their first Cup.

Wayne Gretzky won the Hart each of those years.

In 1982, when they effectively choked, Gretzky was 21; Jari Kurri was 22; Paul Coffey was 21; Glen Anderson was 22; and Mark Messier was 21. It was two more years before they won the Cup.

I haven’t given up hope for this year, but I knew all along this was going to be another year to grow and develop. The future is still very bright, even if we aren’t able to solve Lundvist in three straight games.

by Kirg on Apr 23, 2009 6:07 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

very nice to get a historical view there.

my expectations were for the 2nd round and that an out in the 1st round would be considered dissapointing. though in the big picture the core of the team is so young. future is still bright.

by usiel on Apr 23, 2009 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, but one difference is this year Ovie is 24, Green is 24, Semin’s 26 (?), Backstrom is 21 (?), and Varlamov is 20 (soon 21). Two major guys are slightly older than those Oil boys.

by red army line on Apr 23, 2009 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Ovi is 23 (Sept. 17, 1985), Green is 23 (Oct. 12, 1985), Semin is 25 (March 3, 1984)

by danimal8 on Apr 23, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Anyways point is that they’re slightly older, which means their prime is closer and they don’t have enough time to get used to the playoffs.

by red army line on Apr 24, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice, I like that.

by bigeugene on Apr 23, 2009 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions

The Islanders did the same thing, growing up together in the late ’70’s before taking 4 straight beginning in 1980.

This team was not supposed to be this good, this early and they are struggling with the growing pains.

If it ain't broke, don't break it.

by ChrisAm on Apr 23, 2009 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Dead On

Kirg,

You hit it right on the head man. In my opinion, this Caps team is the reincarnation of that 80’s Oilers team.

You did your homework son. Two years ago I sent an email to Ted and told him to read a book called " The Game of our Lives" http://www.amazon.com/Game-Our-Lives-Peter-Gzowski/dp/1894384598

This current Caps team is on the verge of being a dynasty. Green = Coffey, OV = Gretz, Semin = Kurri and well no Messier yet but let’s wait and see. Backstrom is turning out to be a hell of a player.

The Oilers had quite a bit of role player over the years and mediocre players stepped their game up when they played with the Oilers.

Is Varlamov the next Fuhr? Who knows, goalies are a dime a dozen these days and the game has changed. Semenko and McSorley are long gone and missed.

If anyone put a stick to Gretzky’s throat, like Avery did to OV, they would leave the arena on a stretcher.

The Caps should go back and review the Oilers way of handling things and move forward and win some games.

Caps will win game 5 and 6..

by CleartheTrackherecomesShack on Apr 24, 2009 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions

We came back from 3-1 last year against the Flyers, and if not for a ref-aided Flyers goal we would have won Game 7. The Rangers are no better than last year’s Flyers team, so, yes, it can be done. But it would be helpful if the hockey gods would shine upon us during this series. We have skill and a bit of grit, but we’ll need some luck too.

by Kareem E. on Apr 23, 2009 6:19 PM EDT reply actions

So far the Rangers luck and grit has outpaced our skill and grit.

Hopefully we get a bit of luck tomorrow.

by bigeugene on Apr 23, 2009 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Game 5

I’ll there. Will be my first Caps playoff game since that 4OT game that Nedved one for the pens.

by usiel on Apr 23, 2009 6:32 PM EDT reply actions

Thank you sir. It does us all good to read this.

by Bonzai on Apr 23, 2009 6:44 PM EDT reply actions

We have faith… we also have:

- The reigning MVP, and likely MVP finalist
- A Norris Trophy Finalist
- A 3 time Stanley Cup Winner
- The regining Adams Award winner
- A finalist for the Calder from last year who seems to be playing better than anyone in the series that’s not a goalteder
- A goaltender whose GAA is about 1.00

Granted, this is a hole the Caps are in, but they can climb out. Remember in they did climb out of a 3-1 hole in 1988 to beat Philly? And, of course, remember that the Caps also let the Pens out of the 3-1 hole in 1992 (who then went on to win the Cup) and Isles out of the same hole in 1987.

It can be done… one game at a time…

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Apr 24, 2009 10:15 AM EDT reply actions

We don’t have Dave Semenko

If you've read this far...seek help.

by ThePeerless on Apr 24, 2009 11:42 AM EDT reply actions

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