We have to win one game – four times.
That is exactly the sentiment we must prove out now starting tonight. Read this blog post, well done.
The NHL Playoffs are psychologically taxing. A team works so hard during the long season; creates a giant body of work; and then the playoffs start and every team goes to 0-0. A team loses two games in a row - no big deal in the regular season - but in the playoffs, yikes! The world could be ending. I have some friends who live in the Silicon Valley area that are “dying inside” over the first two games of the playoffs between the Sharks and the Ducks. The Sharks had the most points in the entire NHL but they are down 2-0 as well. The Sharks lost 5 games all season at home. They are now 0-2 at home in the playoffs. It is the NHL playoffs. Anything can happen and it will.
In truth, the playoffs should be focusing the mind and the spirit. Each shift matters. Each game is a series unto itself. We must go into a silo as a team and lock out all distractions and focus on the task at hand. And the task at hand is one win. Not four wins.
The scrutiny during the playoffs is amplified. The media, the blogosphere, the fans, everyone is passionate and emotional and has too much caffeine running through their veins. It is fairly over the top. Everyone cares – a lot!
Case in point: We have lost two well played games by a single goal after finishing the best regular season in Caps history and the message boards and my email box are filled with messages such as these:
“Blow this team up. Start over. Your rebuild is an epic fail.”
“Fire the coach. He is useless.”
“It is time for the architect of this holy mess to get canned, Ted.”
“You have proven you don’t know what you are doing. You must sell the team to an individual who is committed to winning.”
“I am the biggest fan ever of this team. I hope you get swept out of the playoffs so you will start to listen to me.”
And on and on with demands we cut, trade or put on waivers just about every player that is in our lineup as well. Even Alex Ovechkin is getting scrutinized with one email stating that “he is one dimensional. Trade him in the off season for a rugged stay at home D man, a prospect who is a grinder, and a number 1 pick for the next two years to start the second rebuild off the right way – with a focus on the playoff style of playing hockey.”
Also, when you lose, everything else is not as good as before as I have received so many emails complaining about the Red Towels; the Follies video; the music; the ushers; the red stanchions; and the nachos.
Everyone has an opinion and I appreciate all of your messages and your points of view.
This comes with the territory and I understand your concerns and passion. However we have embarked on this journey together. We are working our plan. It is an ongoing body of work. There is a lot of noise out there right now. Our focus is to be maniacal about the signal. We need one win. Tonight. Wish us well. Winning will cure what ails us. I understand that. All I ask for today is for a few good vibes. Onward. Go Caps! Thank you.
Ted, I thought you said that you would not read your emails untill the playoffs were over!! Keep the positive attitude and thinking, Lets Go Caps!!!! one win wed one, win fri, than round 2!!!
Get that win Ted! Through thick and thin… I’m behind you and the team- we love what you have done for this town- you’ve made it live and breathe again!
Thank you,
RJ
I agree. Stay the course, trust your instincts, support the team, its a long road, and viewed one game at a time four is not insurmountable. Since the guys have not played poorly thoughout the two losses, its harder for the coach to get the players to see what needs to be done differently. If there were a lot of specific failures to correct it would be easier in some respects, but then we’d be in a lot worse place. You’ve built a good team, hired a good coach and GM, and you’ve been a supportive owner and accessible to the fans. No other team has Alex O. and all the excitement that he brings to the game and brings out in the rest of the team and fans. We have a lot to be proud of and a lot more reason to be supportive than critical. I’ll be Rocking the Red in my living room just as loud as when I’m at a game. (It helps to have a supportive wife — but I’m sure you know that too!)
Blah, blah, blah. The Caps still haven’t won a playoff series since 1998. In other words, they haven’t won a series since you bought the team. Hopefully that will change this year. If not, you better keep spinning.
Ted,
I have been a hockey fan for a long time and a Caps fan from the beginning. Although I feel that out team has some short-comings that we need to fix, so does every team. I have not always been in agreement with some of the moves that have been made,but you have done a great overall job. I just have to think back a couple of years when I would have loved to leave the rink with a 4-3 or 1-0 loss and was wishing for more caps fans in the stands. Now is the time to be a true fan. It is easy to be a fan during a winning streak. At a recent loss, my daughter (7y/o) asked me why everyone was leaving in the third period. I told her bluntly that true fans don’t leave early and that when your team is having a rough time you have to be more supportive than ever. Here’s to a win tonight!!
Hi Ted,
I am sending tons of good vibes your way. I think you’ve built a fantastic team with a fantastic coach and I know they can win tonight.
Go Caps!
Ted: It’s good that you take everyone’s opinion seriously. And, I’m sure you know that it’s not abnormal for some to rationale losses by scapegoating a referee, coach, player, etc. (although blaming red towels or Funny Follies is somewhat unique). But, please understand that this represents a minority of Caps fans. Most of us truly appreciate the hockey team you and your staff are building and look forward to seeing the Caps return to the Phone Booth on Friday with the series 2-2.
Some people need to chill out and watch some hockey and hope for the best.
Thanks, Ted. I agree.. Just all need to think positive. Just like in the movie, ‘Finding Nemo’.. Keep Swimming ..Just keep swimming!
Team’s fine. The fundamentals are there. Good work overseeing rebuliding the team, Ted. I believe in you and in George. Maybe it will be next year or the next, maybe when Varlamov matures into a real #1 goalie, but we will get there.
I don’t agree at all with the comments about the team being a failure, nor should you sell the team or rebuild. I do, however, feel like the team is playing a little scared. Everyone is tight. What they have to realize is, the Caps ARE the better team. The Rangers are playing to win. The Caps need to get that attitude. Just keep shooting and rush the net. Right now. Mike Green seems to be afraid to take a slap shot. Take the shots. If they get blocked, then so be it. After they get stung a few more times, then maybe those shots will eventually open up. Even though the Caps are the better team, they still must continue to work hard and play their game. Don’t get frustrated. The wins will come. For crying out loud, we have 50 of them already! I am proud of this team for what they have accomplished, and I know they will accomplish much more over the next two months.
Let’s Go Caps!
Ted, awesome to read your blogs. I think it’s amazing that a busy business man will take the time to post. I live in Montreal and am a HUGE Habs fan. We are also down to games to zero. You got to believe. No matter how bleak, it’s not over until it’s over. You’ve got a great team and I enjoy following the Caps almost as much as my beloved Habs. I wouldn’t mind meeting you one day!
I have watched you keenly build this team and I can say this as a Rangers fan — it’s easy to Monday morning quarterback when things aren’t going your way. It’s been a great two games of hockey *yes, I realize my team won those games* but it has been exciting and interesting to watch.
That said as a life long Ranger fan I would say this to the Caps fans who have been Rockin the Red all season. Fandom isn’t easy, it means the ups downs and everything in between. I spent the 80s living on Long Island as a Ranger fan, watching many jump on the Islanders 4 stanley cup band wagon. But I wore my Ron Greshner jersey with pride. And in 1994 the win was even sweeter, nailbiting, but sweet. The Rangers went into the playoffs with the best record in the NHL. We had Messier and Leetch, we had Richter and Graves and numerous utility players that made that season magical. We also had back to back 7 game series – one with the Devils that made my hair grey and then the pesky Canucks who just wouldn’t go away.
I say this because while I am rooting for my Broadway Blues, being a fan is not easy and learning that the regular season success does not give you an automatic pass to success in the post season is a hard lesson to learn. The Caps are a solid team filled with talent. What they need now is a little grit and some street game to make them a success.
That said — LET’S GO RANGERS!
Ted,
Stay the course – true fans believe in this team; bandwagon fans jump ship as soon as the road gets bumpy. We win tonight and start something special…
April 20, 2009 will be remembered as a significant date.
Love the nachos!
Ted,
I support you and your plan. I just didn’t it was right to flood you with these kind of spam:)
Go Caps!!!
It’s not over! To win the series Rangers need to win two more games. Other than their goalie they don’t really play that great. We still can turn things around. Caps are good at coming back.
I think the guys are playing great! They were, and are, just as frustrated, if not more frustrated than the fans. After all, this is their job! We’re just spectators, watching them do their jobs. If had that much scrutiny at my job…whew! I’m just glad I don’t. Keep up the hard work, everyone! It’s not over yet! Let’s Go Caps!
Why is it that when a Washington team loses everyone wants a change or hates the team? But when we win everyone loves the team. Come on this fight is far from over. Yes our backs are against the wall, but we can and will turn this around. Why all the negativity? LETS GO CAPS!
Almost all great young teams go through a tough time. See the Oilers in 1982, losing the Kings.
Your Caps are loaded.
The only problem I see is that you didn’t front-load Ovechkin’s deal, and tack on a bunch of $1 million seasons at the end, to lessen the cap hit, and allow you to add more talent around him. …. If you could re-do that deal, what you give him a Franzen-like deal?
And would he accept it?
Good luck Caps. Tonight is the only focus. We have played well enough to win 2 games. Keep pushing hard and this series can change on a dime. We have outplayed them. Tonight we break thru. Lets Go Caps!!!
Wow. That’s alot of complaining! People are interesting, huh? Not a fan of the people getting hurt videos (follies?) but don’t consider that your problem!
If the players want the win tonight as bad as I do we are a shoo in!
Not sure what was going on before today, but this is the only game I thinking about…
Go CAPS!
Ted…great words from a visionary leader.
I am a 9 yr STH who did not grow up with hockey, but got hooked the first year of your ownership through a 10 game plan….I know this team has what it needs to dig out of this hole. I am saving my angst for the second round of playoffs, then third…then…
One suggestion for next year….as someone in his early 50′s its is hard to hear the young women who do all the fan announcements…from t-shirts to other give aways and contests….While I appreciate the appeal to the youth market she brings, her higher pitched voice is harder to hear on the PA..things often get lost…and I am not yet hearing impaired…..so perhaps an ALTO instead of a SOPRANO next year? I’ve brought guests to games who have seconded this opinion, so I don’t think I am alone…
Really appreciate what you’ve done for this team and the larger community. Proves again and again that having a clear strategy and staying on msg pays off over time.
Gene Kendall
The 2004 Red Sox were down 3 games to none against the NY Yankees and came back to win the ALCS and then the WS. The Caps hole is not that deep…lets keep cool heads and dry pants and cheer on the team for tonight’s game…GO CAPS!
Good luck is the residue of hard work, and the Rangers outworked the Caps by one goal in each of the first two games. The Caps will just have to bear down, give 120% instead of 110% and see if they can produce a winning result. Win or lose the series against the Rangers I am very impressed with the current squad and know that if not this year, then next or the year after. Some of the players will change, no doubt, but the “core” is there, and will produce results. Keep working the plan Ted.
Don’t listen to the nuts Ted, they always scream the loudest. Anyone with any sense is behind yah. Keep up the good work.