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.
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.
During Tuesday night's game between the Florida and Washington, the Panthers Kris Versteeg gave Alex Ovechkin a cheap-shot cross-check causing the Capital's Great Eight to take offense. Gloves went flying and the waltz began. Except it was really more like a waltz than anything else.
The two players spun in circles holding each other, and maybe a punch or 2 was thrown, but not really things NHL fight dreams are made of.
There was a roughing on Ovi and Versteeg and the cross-check on Kris, so not really a fight...but whatever...
The Washington Capitals are currently in last place in the NHL and the players and fans don't seem to know what to do. Jay Beagle had an interesting take on the Caps' problems and how to solve them.
No, he didn't say to practice harder, or for a Captain to show up to optional events. He instead suggested a more bizarre plan.
“I don’t know if we have to sacrifice a cow or something. I don’t know what we have to do.” -Jay Beagle (via Wash Post)
Well a select group of Caps fans took that Beagle quote a little too literally. On Saturday afternoon following a Capitals optional morning skate, fans gathered outside the front entrance of Kettler Iceplex to partake in a wild ritual.
Jenn & Chicken Mode Slice The Head Off Of A Rubber Cow...For The Cup
Led by Caps superfan Jenn Rubenstein (@JennRubenstein), with help from professional DC Sports animal sacrificer Hugh Kaufman (AKA Chicken Mode), both a rubber cow and rubber goat were sacrificed to the hockey gods.
But this wasn't just some quickly thrown together bit. This sacrifice was backed by prayer. Rabbi Leigh Ann Kopans, blessed the sacrificial rubber animals via Twitter before the ritual. Kopans wrote the following blessing:
The Rubber Chicken man lifted the Nats curse, helping them get to the playoffs, and it will only be a matter of time before the ritual lifting of the 2013 Caps curse starts to show its power. Stay Tuned...
CNN sent a reporter out to Kettler Iceplex on Friday morning for the final day of Washington Capitals training camp. The reporter spoke to a bunch of fans about the lockout, about what hockey means to them, and about the Caps.
Awesome Picture Taken And Tweeted By Criag of Puck Buddys
One of the featured interviewees was Doug from Puck Buddies. (The only reason this entire website exists is because of them, so you need to follow them if you aren't yet) Doug was getting really passionate in his interview as he talked about his love for hockey. And of course he predicted that the Caps would take home the Cup!
The segment is being pieced together and should air sometime on CNN on Saturday (or so I was told). Be sure you check it out and see what all the great Caps fans had to say about their favorite sport!
Here's a quick video showing the CNN crew at the home of the Washington Capitals:
The following is a video of Nicklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitals signing autographs for the fans with a Diet Coke in hand. Nicky signs something for every single fan, then gets in his car to leave.
Unfortunately at the same time, Tom Poti comes out of the building and fans mob him in the parking lot for autographs...right behind Backstrom's car.
Nick honks his horn a couple times, but nobody moves. Find out how long it takes him to slowly squeeze out of his spot and get on the road.
That was one of the several conversations I creepily overheard Thursday night at the Washington Capitals fan appreciation night. The free event at Verizon Center featured a ton of free food, a Caps practice, face painting, cheerleaders, and of course overpriced beer.
The event had about 10,000 fans attend, which is insane and possibly more than actual attendance at a Washington Wizards game.
One of the first thing fans noticed if they spent any time walking around the concourse was that many people spent a majority of the night waiting in lines. The fans arrived early and lined up outside of Verizon Center before the event began. Herding up like cattle awaiting the farmer to open the fence. And when the gates were open fans raced to another line, where they stood and awaited free food.
And why wouldn't the fans line up, the food choices were great. They had chili nachos, buffalo wings, hot dogs, Dippin' Dots, cotton candy, popcorn, soda, and more. And it was all free with just one catch. You couldn't grab a second item for your friends.
Concession Lady Letting The 10,000th Person Know The Limit Was 1 Item Per Person
You should have seen the number of sob stories at the front of lines. Fans complaining that they could only take 1 FREE food item were coming up with all sorts of stories to try to convince the men and women at the register to break the rule for them.
My favorite instance of this was a 8 year old (ish) boy in the Dippin' Dots line. He was sent there to pick up some ice cream of the future for him and his brother, who was waiting back at his seat. When the guy in charge gave him the answer "no" the kid was not happy.
In a very loud and authoritative voice the little person stated his credentials as a season ticket holder. Obviously, he was not like the other rubes in the line. He was special. Didn't the ice cream guy understand?
The server still refused and the child was stunned. He just stared at the guy speechless with a Tony Kornheiser like "Do you know who I am" look on his face before heading back towards his seat dejected and angry. In my head I heard him exclaim, "Why I neeehhhvaaaa!" in a southern woman's accent.
Other highlights of the night included Elliot in the morning being awkward, Ovechkin saying his favorite NHL player was Dale Hunter, and Troy Brouwer dancing the Gangnam Style.
Here's another quick video from Caps training camp. Adam Oates had the players skating laps during practice, and the players went in groups with their same color jerseys.
It was quite the colorful situation. Check it out!
So a little kid, maybe 6 years old has this really cool Maryland hockey goalie helmet, and he was wearing it around Kettler all day. Later his mom takes him to get autographs from the Washington Capitals goaltenders. See what happens in this video.
This video is great because it starts off with one of the fans screaming "Brandon" to get Braden's attention. Later, you can hear the little kid scream "Mr. Neuvirrrrth!" in an adorable kids voice. Enjoy:
After the first day of training camp, the Washington Capitals players walked past some fans on their way to get their pictures taken. One of the kids got so excited that the Caps players were so close to him that he got a little sick.
The Kid pukes on the floor, and a quick thinking Caps employee grabs a trash can and runs over to the kid to catch the rest of the puke. Nick Backstrom comes by unaware a few minutes later. Take a look to see what happened:
LOL. Not sure how much puke was on the floor at the time when Backy walked through.
What were the Caps players doing over the lockout? DOMINATING no doubt...
Good News. Nick Backstrom saw a specialist and found out his head is good to go for the upcoming season. Let's see how he got to that point and what he did during the Lockout:
When I was growing up I played a lot of sports and as an adult I continue to try out new games and sports. However, I never had the opportunity to play hockey.
I played some street hockey as a kid in the neighborhood. We used a tennis ball. We didn't wear rollerblades. I could only shoot a backhanded shot. I played goalie with a baseball glove. It was not hockey.
Because I never played and never tried, I can't really figure out how much skill certain things take. On TV these NHL guys make it look easy.
But after seeing the following drill, I have a new greater respect for the skill that these players have. And I finally understand what happens in the cloud of people who jumble up in front of the net.
The players stand in front of the net and use their sticks to slightly change the direction of the shot, but still get the goal without even looking. I couldn't believe it. Two different guys stepped in and nailed tip after tip into the net.
Here's What Home Ice Advantage Sounds Like
