Tom Wilson's Skate Blade Falls Off, His Comical Journey To The Bench

During the Caps vs Rangers game 6 at Madison Square Garden, Caps rookie Tom Wilson, playing in just his second career NHL game, checked a Rangers player into the boards behind the Ranger's  goal and the blade of his skate broke off.

Wilson was trapped far away from his bench with no way to skate back...here is Wilson bumbling and stumbling, trying to make his way to the freedom of his bench.  It's all good when you don't get hurt!  Check it out!

Here's What Home Ice Advantage Sounds Like

We put together some clips of the crowd reactions from the Caps huge game 5 overtime win over the New York Rangers so you can see what it is like to be in a nervous but excited arena during the NHL playoffs.  And then, at the end, it all comes together as the crowd goes insane when the Caps pull out the win on a Mike Ribeiro game winner.  Check out the video.

Impromptu Go-Go Dance Party Breaks Out On F Street After Caps Defeat Rangers

On Friday night at Verizon Center, after the Washington Capitals defeated the New York Rangers with an exciting overtime goal, a big thunderstorm broke out just as the huge crowd was exiting the Verizon Center.  That didn't stop the over-excited crowd from expressing their joy after witnessing an amazing and important victory.

A large group of fans gathered around a street performing band and a huge dance party broke out.  While many people (and the band) were packed under a small corner overhang, several were just dancing in the rain, soaking wet.  It was fun and a really cool scene.

At one point a father puts his tiny daughter on his shoulders and the crowd begins to dance with them as the little girl bounces like crazy as she holds up a "World's Biggest Caps Fan" sign.  You can see what you missed in the video below.

Is This Rangers Player Mocking Alex Ovechkin?

Derek Stepan scored a go-ahead / game winning goal to give the Rangers the 4-3 victory and afterwards launched himself into the boards, Ovi style.  Was this mocking Ovi?  Was it something he does all the time.  Is it a celebration that is not just for Ovi?  Here's the GIF and you can answer my question.

Rangers Fans Ruin Anthem By Screaming During It

Before the start of Game 2 of Rangers/Caps of the NHL playoffs, A group of New York Rangers fans at Verizon Center decided to wait for a quiet moment between stanzas in the National Anthem to scream "Let's Go Rangers".  It was really annoying and ruined what is typically a nice patriotic moment before games.  Video follows.

Caps vs Rangers Playoff Song Taylor Swift Style

We've been having fun so far these playoffs so we thought we'd have more fun.  We were at both game 1 and 2 and got some footage of Caps fans around the Verizon Center.  Instead of just doing a slideshow or something, we decided to make it a Taylor Swift song and video.  Um...whatever is below is what happened...uh...word.

Mike Green Sinks Goal, Verizon Breaks My Ears

The Caps just won game 2 of the series against the Rangers in overtime on this game winning goal by Mike Green.  A tired and nervously quiet Verizon Center after 60 minutes of no scoring, goes from 0 to 11 in about 2 seconds.  Listen & watch as the roof blows off.

Score Goals Like Ovechkin, Diamonds On The Ice, Caps vs Rangers Playoff Song

Every season we like to have a little fun and create some songs to help pump us up for the playoffs.  After about 10 failed attempts to make a Ke$ha or Kelly Clarkson song, we ended up going with a Rihanna song.  Check it out.

The Most Beautiful Loss In The World

252 Days...

When the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning dropped the puck on Saturday night, it was a few hours over 252 days since the Caps faced off against the New York Rangers in their final period of action back in May of 2012.  Since that time the Caps were eliminated from the playoffs, an 8th seed won the Cup, a season was almost cancelled, and earlier in the day, the NHL made its "triumphant" return.

And that is what makes this scene so beautiful.  Caps fans were expecting to take that game 7 against the Rangers at the end of last season and when it didn't happen their mouths began to water as we awaited the next season to begin.  Both the players and the fans were hoping the season started the next day.  Instead the lockout happened and it didn't even happen as regularly scheduled.

John Tortorella Faux Press Conference

The coach of the New York Rangers John Tortorella always gives great press conferences.  Check out this latest one!

Follow me on Twitter! @TheDugsSports

The Story Of Game Six By A New Fan

"If I could get tickets, would you be interested in going to the Caps Game 6 tomorrow?"


That is the question that I heard coming out of my nubby ENV2 Cell phone with the broken inner screen from 2007.  I was pretty sure that it was a phone error, and that I did not actually hear what I thought I heard.  I examined my phone to make sure it was on and to make sure that there was actually a connected phone call.  All systems go.  It was real.

It was my boss who was asking the question and I quickly screamed, "Of Course" thinking that if I didn't say it loud enough or fast enough that the offer would disappear or expire.  No expiration on the deal.  I was in.

The Holt-Beastie Boys: Licensed To Ill

A classic Caps album. Click to enlarge.

DCinco De Mayo

It's time for a FIESTA!  The Capitals just tied the series with the Rangers and the Nationals are well on their way to embarrassing the Phillies in front of tons of their fans.  It really is DCinco De Mayo!

The Caps are unbelievable.  Towards the end of the season there was a question of whether or not the team would make the playoffs, and now all of a sudden they are tied 2-2 in the second round.

The Caps defeated the Rangers 3-2 after Mike Green finally decided to take (and make) the open shot with 6 minutes remaining to seal the deal.  The Cappys got goals from Ovi, Backstrom, and Green.  Hmmm.  Those three names look familiar.

The Rangers series is so much less "cheap" than the Bruins series, which shows you that the Bruins were the antagonists in the a-hole department.  This series is two teams playing hard hockey, no scrums, no shoving matches, no fighting.  Just hockey.  I love it.

Game 5 in NYC on Monday!  CANT WAIT!

Carpe Diem Boys, Seize The Day!

Let's start forgetting game 3 and get pumped up for game 4!

I'm proud to Rock the Red

I was walking home from my lil' meet up at Starbucks (aka math tutoring. Geometry's hard, ok?) and I was thinking "hmmm, what to write?" When it hit me. I'm proud of the Caps. Yeah, they lost. That really stinks like a carton of cream cheese left out on a hot summer day, but they really, in my eyes, proved they can do it. Last year was a false sense of security, they didn't have the same mentality or work ethic, so to say.

This year, something's different. Yeah, they've had a few bad games but they've been playing with intensity and a different mind set that's really propelled them this far. If you think about it, the Caps have, roughly, the same team as last year. They did stellar in the first round and then went in a downward spiral agaisnt Tampa. You aren't seeing that this year.

So what if they're down two games? The first game the Caps (as well as the rangers) were getting used to each other and the different playing styles, etc. Last nights game was a mix of exhaustion (they played 6 periods, for crying out loud!) and some confusion in the D. They lost. But, in my opinion, they played a great game and the score just didn't reflect it.

No matter what the score of Game 4 is or if the Caps win the series, I'll always rock the red. Let's put this early morning loss behind us and get ready for the game Saturday, Caps fans! LET'S GO CAPS!!!

A song for ye of little faith (Yes, this is an ABBA song. I really just went there);

Written by Camilla Alsobrook (@Camcoco10), Caps BBall's Teen Correspondent.  Camilla also writes for Puck Buddy's and Capital Connection.

Fans Leave, Caps Lose

As the 2nd overtime got within the final 5 minutes, 10 people at the bar had enough.  "We have work tomorrow" a few said as they walked out the door.

I know that if you are reading this, you are probably not one of those people, but that really annoys me.  Playoff games don't happen every night in DC.  In fact they rarely happen.  And you are going to walk out on a great hockey game, with your team in it.

Here's a tip.  The next day at work, drink an extra cup of coffee.  You can't perform after one day of not getting 8 hours of sleep?  That is pathetic.  I'm glad you aren't overseas fighting for our country.

Some people have kids and stuff like that.  Some people are like 50 so they have already seen this before.  I'm not talking about them.  I'm talking about the 30 year olds with no kids who left this bar tonight holding hands with their girlfriends.  And so far I'm just talking about the bar.

Then you have the people at the arena.  Several empty seats in the lower bowl were open during the 3rd OT.  (Did they even extend the metro...I figure DC is stupid enough to not open the train past midnight)  If metro was closing and leaving meant taking a $100 cab ride, I'd run to the metro too.  But is that why the people left?

I guess I kind of was impressed with how many people stayed knowing that it is DC.  It seemed like only 100 or so from the lower level left.  Do those 100 leave in Philly?  I don't think they do.

Anyways, like I was saying, I'm not mad at the majority.  I'm mad at the casuals as usual.  Do they not understand what die-hard fans do for their team?  I would have watched 100 overtimes.  We would take turns napping for 20 second intervals during faceoffs.  Why?  Because it's the CUP!

Comin Home

I'm coming home, I coming home, tell the world that I'm coming home...

So the Caps have taken the "home ice advantage" and are coming back to Verizon to play two.  Now in many sports this would be a great sign.  In the NHL Playoffs?  Not so much.  While I'm still going to give the Caps the "Unleash The Fury Advantage" these games could easily go 1-1 again.

Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday, I know my kingdom awaits and they've forgotten my mistakes...

Well not quite.  I remember the mistakes (Brooks Laich! Knuble stick to face!).  I remember the mistakes even more than I remember the great plays.  However, coming back home with a 1-1 "lead", all is forgiven.  Just don't do it again! (easy for me to say).

I'm coming home, I coming home, tell the world...


Well Caps fans?  Are you going to do the 8 minute "Ovi's Good" countdown?  Are you going to rock the red?  Are you going to unleash the fury?  Or are we going to hear a Let's Go Rangers chant like I did last night at the Nationals game?

So let everyone know today that the Caps are still alive.  Wear your red shirt to the office.  Knock out some of your front teeth and walk around in an Ovi jersey.  Drive down 66 honking your horn to the tune of Let's Go Caps!  Start that LUND-QVIST chant at the office.  TELL THE WORLD, THE CAPS ARE COMING HOME!

 

Ovimania Is Running Wild In NYC

In the 3rd period of a tie ballpuckgame, the 8 minute mark approached and the Rangers fans counted it down.  5...4...3...2...1...OVI SUCKS! OVI SUCKS! OVI SUCKS!  Well in just a little over thirty seconds later Alexander Ovechkin was skating down the ice giving the fans the old Hulk Hogan Can Ya Hear Me move as the goal siren flashed and the scoreboard changed from a 2 to a 3 next to the Capitals name.

That goal from Ovi turned out to be the game winner, and the New York Rangers finally got to meet one of the Caps arch enemies, the posts.  In the closing minutes the "DING!" sounded out and Caps fans fell to the floor trying to breathe, but the Rangers shot flew over the goal and not inside it.

The Caps had a 2-0 lead late into the first period and I wrote the following notes down.  'Roman Hamrlik is old and slow, how does that help the Caps'.  And then a minute later I wrote, 'Mike Green needs to get less ice time.'  Green had a pretty awful game.

The Rangers looked a little bit flat, the way the Caps looked in game 1 and the posts were once again the difference in the game.  At one point a puck was sitting inches from the goal behind Holtby and nobody was moving it until a Caps player tipped it out.

The first Caps goal in the first was a nice three man passing move, Aucoin to Ward to Knuble.  1-0 Caps.  Five minutes later Ludqvist decided to go behind the net and Chimera rushed to the puck to beat him, then centered the puck in front of the empty net.  After a Hendricks (I think) attempted backwards between the legs shot, Chimera came back into the play and put it off a Rangers skate for the 2-0 lead.

But just as it looks like the Caps are in control, Brooks Laich made the worst line change I have ever seen (in my 90 something games watched).  It was 4 on 4 and the puck was in a Ranger's stick in the neutral zone and he made the switch.  A 4 on 3 ensued and the Rangers got a goal in the final minute of the first.

The Rangers tied it up in the 3rd and I was ready to start smashing things, but Alex Ovechkin unleased Ovimania all over Madison Square Garden and scored the game winner.

This was a huge win for the Caps.  They now control the series with the home field ice advantage.  Yeah I know, home doesn't seem to matter...but WHATEVZ!  Game 3 is back home on Wednesday.

General Dale R Hunter

Patton? or Hunter?

Whitewater Rafting & The Capitals

A Horrible Surprise:

On Thursday night, the Rangers defeated the Ottawa Senators and the playoff schedules were released by the NHL.  The Caps would be playing the Rangers and the first game would be a Saturday 3pm matinee.  I was excited.  I was going to have an all day bar-hopping beer-drinking weekend with the Washington Capitals (and Bryce Harper).  Well, with them on the TV.

So you can imagine my surprise when my friend called me on Friday, the day before the huge first game, and told me to "be at my house at 8am".  What was he talking about?  I wasn't going to start "tailgating" for a 3pm game at 8 in the morning.  And I most certainly wasn't going to go over to HIS house to watch the action on a 24 inch bubble TV.

Then it hit me.  A few months ago, my friends convinced me to throw down $100 for a Living Social whitewater rafting trip.  Back in February it sounded like a great idea and I was ready for summer to start.  Back when the Caps were "maybe" going to be in the playoffs and if they made it would have "no chance" to advance to the 2nd round.  Yes THAT February.

A Random Caps Fan:

I really really really really wanted to skip the trip and say f-you to my $100.  (After all it was a sunk cost...ask a business major).  But I was told that it would be fun and we would be back in time to watch half the game.  I decided, what the hell, I'll have 6 more games to watch (uhhh you know that games 5-7 are TBD?)  

So without even looking at the trip details I got to my friends at 8am and we headed off to catch the whitewater rafting bus.  I assumed (like an idiot) that my friend knew what was going on.  We meandered slowly towards our destination, stopping a few times on the way for beer and passengers.  At one point someone had to go back and print out their tickets but nobody seemed to be in any hurry.

We parked about 5 blocks away at my secret parking spot, and walked in our swimsuits carrying a heavy cooler at 9am through Chinatown and past Verizon.  A dog-walking man in a Caps hat hollered at us, "YEAHHH baby, tailgatin for the Caps game already!!! Let's Go Caps!"

A Terrifying Realization:

Finally we approached the meeting point and I started to get worried.  Why was there no bus parked in front of our destination?  Why were there no people gathered in the lobby?  Why didn't I look at the trip details and take charge of this group of slow-moving slugs!?

Sure enough we had missed the bus (and we're never ever ever gonna do it again -KK).  Woke up early, spent $100, carried that damn cooler all the way here, and we were gonna have to just turn back around and go home.  "At least we can watch the Caps game" someone muttered.

However Living Social to the rescue!  The adventure guide weekend warrior marketing specialist (tour guide) told us that we could drive there ourselves!  The only catch was we would have to beat the bus and the bus had a 20 minute head start on us.

A Fast Forward:

This is a Caps blog so we will fast forward through the actual trip.  A quick summary:  Speeding.  Jefferson Starship.  Beat the Bus.  Freezing Cold.  Only one that didn't wear a wet suit.  Fell off the boat into the rapids.  Sweatshirt weighed 10 pounds and I almost had hypothermia.  Finally over.  Bud Light Platinum & Corn-hole.  Back in car.

As it turned out, missing the bus was the best thing that could have happened.  While all those "bus losers" as we called them had to stick around and pretend to have fun at a BBQ eating hot dogs, we could leave.  Plus we didn't have to drive back to the meeting point, we could go straight to a house with a giant HDTV.

So long story short (yeah could have been longer) we were on the road with WaltonCaps on the Radio calling the opening face off.  With help from the 20 minute intermission we were home just in time to watch the start of period 2 with those terrible NBC announcers.

The End:

So at this point in the story we are at the beginning of the 2nd period.  The score is 0-0.  And that is where this will end.  I don't even think hockey was played after this.  

The story continues later that night when on a date with a girl who has to go to the hospital because she felt like she was stabbed.  You can find out what I did at Woeful Nats.