Capitals: Now Breaking the Hearts of Rival Teams' Fans Everywhere
by Stephen Pepper on Feb 5, 2010 2:00 PM EST
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PrintWatching this season's Washington Capitals do battle in an old rival's barn, far away from the bubbling vermillion sexpot of ecstacy that is le Centre Verizón these days, provides a singular perspective on just what this season-to-date has meant to the franchise in commanding respect, and to a long-suffering fan base in providing a jolt to interrupt a 35-year malaise. (Smelling salts, if you will.) We can eyewitness the plight of the opposing fan that is getting the message: When the Caps come to town, chances are it ain't gonna be pretty.
The Empire State Building might as well have been lit up all in red last night. As a warning.
When the archived reports and first-hand accounts of the last 10-game winning streak for the Caps surfaced, it seemed utterly tragic that, while excitement for the team was then percolating like Sunday morning's first mug of joe, such precious little success has visited this corner of the hockey world in the intervening 24 seasons.
The success that was enjoyed during that period was largely modest and unexpected, and from a team that wasn't supposed to achieve. Throughout the 90's, those who weren't Capital die-hards could scarcely call to mind anyone on the team worth mentioning in national discourse save Peter Bondra and "Olie the Goalie."
Today, the Capitals boast a pantheon of demi-gods known throughout the hockey world. When any one of Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, or Nicklas Backstrom carried the puck up ice with a flourish last night in Manhattan, cries of wonder from primary school-age boys seated in my row interrupted their otherwise incessant hunt for the nearest soft pretzel or soda vendor. Their eyes were transfixed. Their impressionable minds absorbed. Perhaps at the moment they felt a bit uneasy wearing Ranger blue. Grown men groaned, pecked away on their handheld devices.
I know the feeling exactly. In the early- to mid-90's, as a young fan, the Caps might have themselves put up a five spot on the Penguins at home, but the latter's overwhelming offense would seem always to ultimately prevail. But what goes around is coming around. And so, even a strong start yesterday by the home team, a re-claiming of the leads seconds after a tying score, and an impressive power play performance, could not break the #1 team in the league. The #1 team in the league. Approaching mid-February.
Heck, even Matt Bradley almost shocked the Ranger faithful again with a breakaway goal on Henrik Lundqvist.
When the Caps first stepped onto the Garden ice just prior to the opening draw, they were not greeted with the customary chorus of boos, the raining down of invective. All that could be heard was the afterglow of cheers for the beleaguered heroes in blue who trudged out moments before. And otherwise, silence. Awe. Anxiety? And yes, I don't need to re-tell it, the Caps' faithful were plentiful at the Garden again, and this time more emboldened than I have ever witnessed in any road arena. So what was heard was, instead, music to my ears. A vocal minority of heartily appreciative shouts in defiance of the historic MSG atmosphere.
Images on the big screen aloft celebrated the 1994 Stanley Cup win for the Blueshirts. That was then. This is now.
Post-game, the Ranger fan was dispirited. Rightly so. "It was closer than I thought it would be," I overheard in the concourse. Another fan, who was more personally affected by the night's loss, snapped at me, "You're not going to win a Stanley Cup with that goalie," but then brushed off any attempt at actual hockey discussion. I understood his obsession with the position and his unwillingness to engage. After all, King Henrik is all that the Ranger fan has to applaud. (And during the game, another "fan" resorted to distracting and threatening Jose Theodore with a laser pointer.)
Many more who make a living offering such assessments will continue to nitpick at the Caps' blueline and goaltending to expose some fatal flaw that will undo the rock stars from D.C. in the post-season. But I'm not concerned with that right now. (Or even with that other team across the Hudson which has just dramatically strengthened itself.)
What is most worth our time right now is to take full advantage of our position as fans of the most successful and entertaining squad in the game today. The team that's driving the NHL bus. Cheer your red heart out no matter what arena you're in. Make yourself at home. Unleash your own fan fury.
This is our time!
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Don't forget to add this one
“You’re not going to win now that the Devils have Kovalchuk.”
Right-o chap.
Russian Machine very rarely breaks.
I got as far as
“bubbling vermillion sexpot of ecstasy” before I had to stop and add this comment.
That’s fricking hilarious.
Nice one.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Next time I notice anything vermillion in regards to, um, youknowwhatImean…well, let’s say I hope it never happens.
I also like “pantheon of demi-gods”. I read that to myself in John Facenda’s voice, btw.
I do take your overall point, and I have felt much the same way myself: it is awfully, awfully nice, after decades of icing the little engine that could(n’t) teams, to be the guys bringing a gun to a knife fight.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
couple comments
1) No hearts get “broken” in the regular season.
2) Ultimately, this all boils down to the Ovie effect. We’ve had good to even nearly great teams before, but never have we had the league’s best player. That changes everything. It changes the perception of the team, the aura, the respect level. It’s the LeBron effect.
3) are there road-draw numbers out? you have to imagine that the caps are close to the top. It’s the Ovie effect again, but also attributable to the exciting style of play. I watch the games on Center Ice and usually watch the visiting feed, and there is a palpable level of respect and awe from pretty much every commentator. Mentioned this in the other post, but Joe and Sam on MSG last night were really praising the team and also mentioning the buzz and atmosphere in the building. When the Caps come into town, it’s an event.
If that’s average attendance in away dates, that’s going to be weighted down by the sparse crowds in the SE.
I hope that if you compared average attendance at the opponents’ buildings, then the actual attendance when the Caps were in town, that there’d be a bump. Maybe?
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
You’re right, it’s just the regular season. But no reason not to live it up.
by Stephen Pepper on Feb 5, 2010 2:35 PM EST up reply actions
And I’ve had my heart broken plenty in the regular season, watching the Caps try to hold on against a more talented squad, only to have them kick it into gear in the third period and take a casual two points home with them…
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Regardless, the Ranger fan hearts did get broken last April in the first round.
by Stephen Pepper on Feb 5, 2010 2:36 PM EST up reply actions
The rest of the SE is 22nd, 24th, 26th and 28th in home attendance. Lots of factors to weigh, but I’m sure that hurts the caps quite a bit.
My early retort to everyone who thinks Kovy just sealed it for the Devils.
“Hopefully Kovy does as well with Jaques as Gaborik did with Jaques.”
one would think that LeMaire has learned from that experience
one would not hope, but one would think
Jacques, isn’t likely to change. I know he’s gotten away from the trap a little bit with the devils but I don’t see him changing too much now. People kind of blew it off, but it was enlightening to see Gaborik freed from JL, he was hamstrung IMO. Though Torts benched Gaborik this year too so maybe it was a two way street.
Bottom line I just don’t know if JL will have the temperament to relate to a younger European star, or change HIS system enough to maximize what Kovy could bring to the table. There is a 23%-31% chance this completely blows up in the Devils faces, IMO.
on Gaborik
he’s such a pure shooter/sniper, it’s pretty remarkable. seeing him again last night, what makes him so dangerous is his ability to shoot the puck in stride, which disguises it because there’s no need for a wind-up; he doesn’t telegraph his shots, he just shoots them. like Ronaldo (the old one) in soccer. you didn’t know when the shot was coming because it was disguised so well.
I agree, live it up. . .
However, I say that because I want others to do as I say, not as I do. It is unfortunate but I live in enemy territory and not just any enemy territory I live in Pittsburgh where as of right now the fans here have a legitimate counterpoint. Yes the Caps may be the best in the NHL right now but the Pens are the champs and that will hold true for at least another 4 months or so. Not only are they the champs there is also that little issue of Round 2, Game 7. Now things may be different if I lived in say Minnesota or St. Louis or Dallas. I would be living it up with a bit more outward enthusiam than I am right now. Now I watch each game on Center Ice in my house and direct my energy toward like minded fans here a J. R. but rest assured should we win it this year, the fury will be unleashed!!!! Good read Peppers. . .
How about this Rangers comments on Caps fans at MSG?
There was a good number of Caps fans in the building, and the vast majority was clearly bandwagoners wearing jerseys and t-shirts that still likely had the tags on them. Two particular clowns in my section had brand new, red Mike Green and Semyon Varlamov sweaters over their monogrammed dress shirts. Lame! The only Washington fan that garnered any credibility was the dude wearing the black Steve Konowalchuk jersey.
from scottyhockey site.
Yeah, the guy who wrote that is a dick!
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Feb 5, 2010 3:13 PM EST up reply actions
He was probably the guy who lasered JT60, eh?
I agree that a black Kono jersey is nails, though.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Loved Kono, one of my top five Caps of all time.
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Feb 5, 2010 3:26 PM EST up reply actions
Right up there with Poti? ;-) zing
Yeah, Kono was a great player, good guy all around. A shame he had to retire at such a young age, but I’m glad the caught his heart condition before it killed him. It’s happened to too many athletes…. (one is too many).
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 5, 2010 3:43 PM EST up reply actions
Who are the other four, just for interest’s sake?
Fwiw, my top 5 Rangers:
1. Mess
2. Gravy Train
3. Ulfie
4. Duguay
5. Boom Boom Geffrion
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
1-Ollie the Goalie
2-Ovie
3-Kono
4-Iafrate/Stevens
5-Langway (was too young to see his best days)
I loved Mike Gartner only as a Ranger, haha.
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Feb 5, 2010 3:53 PM EST up reply actions
Bobby f’ing Carpenter.
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Feb 5, 2010 4:06 PM EST up reply actions
He had the first bad hockey commercial that I can remember. “Hi, this is [pause] Bobby Carp’nner of the [pause] Washington Capitals…” I can’t find that thing on Youtube, but it was a fricking classic. I think it was for an auto dealership.
Ah, Channel 20…
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Yeah, us fans with the disposable income to afford more than one jersey, we’re bandwagon-jumping assholes.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
by jordanDC on Feb 5, 2010 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Not taking away from the hardcore fans, I know there are a few dozen of you (oh! snap!), but even you have to admit that there are a whole lot more people who care now than did pre-lockout.
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Feb 5, 2010 3:41 PM EST up reply actions
As opposed to MSG, right? The level of interest there is precisely commensurate with that of, oh, say, 1994?
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Still sell out most every game (and get at least 14,000 in the building for those 18,200 sellouts, lol). Not like when I came down to the Phone Booth after the lockout for the first (or second, I cant remember) Crosby-Ovechkin in DC and there was far less than a full house and at least half were Penguin fans.
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Feb 5, 2010 3:48 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, they sell out. How many of those guys in the lower bowl can explain a hand pass rule or the evolution of the two line pass?
It’s a bunch of corporate types down low, as opposed to the seething cauldron of blue and white it was in ’94 (when I was cheering my ass off for the Rangers, by the way)
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
You jumped ship?!? For shame…
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Feb 5, 2010 3:58 PM EST up reply actions
C’mon. I was a Caps fan, but I always cheered for the East in the Finals, and this had the whole 1940 angle, Messier’s heroic performance…
I got nothing against the Blueshirts, and they’re original six and all, but they’ll never be my team.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Well definitely, any teams going to have its share of bandwagon fans. But our arena is loud and sold out every single game. People are getting hooked on the game and thats never a bad thing.
Ive been a fan since 1992, Ive seen all the bad times and now Im reaping the rewards. People are making memories with their kids and growing new hardcore fans with this team, and its going to stick.
I saw a lot of "brand new" Gaborik jerseys and tees last night as well. Fans of all teams like to buy new gear.
Am I damned to wear my ’92-93 home Kevin Hatcher sweater forever?!
by Stephen Pepper on Feb 5, 2010 3:22 PM EST up reply actions
Don’t you have the budget for a “new” jersey? (But not one in honor of the Devils.)
I could not resist the pun.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I don’t get it?
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Devils play in New Jersey. Steve should get a new jersey instead of wearing the old one for Kevin Hatcher.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Ach. Should have seen that.
Thanks for explaining. I’m a moron.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Yeah, that guy in the Del Zotto jersey in front of me was clearly a bandwagon fan. After all, he must have bought it pretty recently!
The Caps certainly have new fans, and I don’t take offense to the “bandwagon” label. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t been a Caps fan for more than 15 years just because I have a red Ovie jersey like everyone else. Any fanbase picks up stragglers when the team is dominating like the Caps are, Rangers (especially) included.
dude was probably wearing a t-shirt from the "sean avery collection"
i kid you not… it exists and it sells inside MSG
Nah, dude was wearing a Blair Betts jersey.
The Sean Avery collection is ridiculous.
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Feb 5, 2010 3:26 PM EST up reply actions
so when you bouht that blair betts jersey WAY back in 05, did folks think you were a bandwagon fan?
your post about last nights game was very well done. i appreciate a guy who can be critical of his team when warranted and provide praise to the guys who do well on either team. but the line about the tags on the jerseys was just lazy and unoriginal.
there are lots of new caps fans for sure. why not? probably a lot of rangers fans who didnt pay attention before 94. but you’d probably be surprised at how many fans such as myself have been with the caps for a LONG LONG time.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
Now who is being silly. Yes, clearly bandwagon fans buy sweaters of fourth liners. And actually, I got the Bettsy recently (new nameplate over a Gomez jersey a friend was throwing out); in ’05 I bought a Jed Ortmeyer.
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Feb 5, 2010 4:42 PM EST up reply actions
It is seven per but eighth this season the way the deal is done. Sather can make the trades, he just needs someone else to sign people because he gets drunk and picks names out of a hat or something and just throws money at him. Drury is a joke, worst captain in 84 seasons of Ranger hockey.
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Feb 5, 2010 11:17 PM EST up reply actions
by the way, wearing a new jersey doesnt mean you are a new fan. you are assuming they dont have any other ones in their closet. I rock my ovie jersey now, but that doesnt mean i dont have other jerseys too. this observation is an all around fail as far as im concerned.
Between Wise and warped, I choose warped.
Great Post
I was at the Boston game on Tuesday, and it was there I realized how loud I cheer when the Caps score. I thought to myself after the Knuble goal “wow, that was kinda loud” (I had gone to a game in Boston 2 years ago, but we lost 0-2, so I didn’t cheer) and when I cheer at VC I can’t hear myself. But as I thought about it I decided that it didn’t matter, I could cheer as loud as I wanted to.
P.S. Boston fans will always give you a hard time but it’s always playful, which is why I enjoy that city. I doubt Yankee fans can say the same but I find Bostonians real nice and half way through the 3rd, they wasn’t booing the Caps, they were booing the B’s.
Я Харт не так ли?
I’ve been to both Boston games (because I live up there) this year, and that’s my experience with them as well. During the season opener I was in line at a concession stand after the 2nd period and two guys in front of me turned around and asked for my take on what had happened so far in the game. I thought that was really cool.
I also ran into a Penguins fan at a bar down the street from the Garden after the Boston game, and that was awkward.
I was wondering the same thing. He even went to the game, and showed me the penguin shirt he was wearing under his coat that he wore to the game.
He started out telling me he was from Pittsburgh, and trying to be tactful (although judging by the girlfriend’s shock to my repsonse, maybe not), I said “that’s unfortunate.”
I was able to attend the odd Caps-Rangers tilt at MSG a few years ago. The most memorable moment for me took place between Mark Messier and Jeff Halpern. Right off a faceoff in the Rangers d zone, Halpern did something that pissed Messier off to the point that he completely ignored the game going on around them. Messier just skated beside Halpern yapping at him all the way back to the Caps zone before finally crosschecking him and taking a penalty. No idea what caused that, but I’d never seen Messier taken off his game to that extent. Good on Jeff for ignoring it and getting a PP for his team.
Hey All!
Was at the game last night, SICK seats right behind the goal (lundy, jose, lundy) with a fellow caps fan and we went nuts the whole game!! i even broke my camera celebrating the first goal, but magically fixed it and was able to get some good shots. the game was so much fun and it was great seeing so many caps fans there!
and no.. not bandwagoners. bandwagoners are, imo, the people who went to the playoffs games at msg but were too worried to wear team colors to the game. i would have loved to hear scotty try to say all of that to my face about bandwagon fans! we were all loud and proud, no fake fans here! on the other hand msg was awfully quiet for basically the whole game… whereas VC is rocking even if (or especially if) the team is behind a goal. we def do not go gentle into that good night, and that’s how it should be!
Between Wise and warped, I choose warped.
I live and work in San Jose now. I wear Caps gear to every Sharks game that I go to. Sometimes I get a comment, but almost always its followed by a: “You guys are looking really good this year” or “I wish we were as young as you guys” or “I watch you guys whenever I can”. I missed Caps/Sharks in SJ this year, unfortunately (fortunately?), but I’m guessing there were some Caps fans out there.
I can say for a fact that the Shark Tank has NOTHING on VC. Nothing. They have knowledgable fans, and they do cheer hard, but our fans are real FANatics. I have friends from both Detroit and NYC, and even Pittsburgh (where I went to school) that admit their fans aren’t as delerious as those in DC.
I think it may be safe to say that our boys have transcended team bounds and garner respect just from their incredible ability to play hockey, individually and now as a team. You can smell the fear of the other team’s fans. No lead is safe, and (insert team) just doesn’t have the skill to truly go toe-to-toe with the Caps. And it has only begun in earnest this season… feels an awful lot like the beginning of something dynastic and incredible.
Deeper, More Skilled, Best Minors Team, with more Cap Room than your team... I can see why you're jealous.
by CapitalDominion on Feb 6, 2010 12:16 PM EST reply actions
Great, great read!
While snowed in, I’m catching up on my backlog of blog-reads. This article was a blast, Pepper — nicely done man. :)
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
53 | 25 | 17 | 11 | 61 |
|
Washington
|
54 | 28 | 21 | 5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg
|
56 | 26 | 24 | 6 | 58 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
53 | 23 | 24 | 6 | 52 |
|
Carolina
|
55 | 20 | 25 | 10 | 50 |
(updated 2.10.2012 at 9:27 AM EST)
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