Easy. Take it easy.
While this has been fun, there is a lot of work left to do.
We are up 2 to 0. Let us NOT forget the New York Rangers were up 2 to 0 on us. We all saw how that turned out, right?
This will be a battle royal with lots of emotional ups and downs. It will be a very long series. Keep it all in check. Remain calm. Breathe - inhale – exhale.
Don’t expend all of your energy in a few games. Keep some positive vibes in storage for us as we head onto the road for Games 3 and 4.
Last night was great theater for the league; for the VS network; and for our fans. The building was truly alive. There is a great love affair between our community and our team. We are all so very grateful to you all.
We all witnessed a historic set of performances last night - a game that people will talk about for years to come – with two heavyweight champs going toe to toe all night long. Like the Thrilla in Manila. 
Except now we have to get back into the ring and do it again at their place on Wednesday.
My favorite overnight email was from a long distance friend and said ”The game shouldn’t have been on VS network. It should have been on the BRAVO! Network.”
Sidney Crosby is an amazing player.
Alex Ovechkin is an amazing player.
All fans of NHL hockey were treated to something special last night.
At the end of the day though, it came down to goaltending and to role players and special teams. Don’t you love playoff hockey?
Some notes:
I am personally very concerned about the hit on our goaltender at the end of the game. I am hopeful that the crosscheck with a stick will be under review by the league. That was unacceptable.
I am very concerned by some of the tonality and messages about some of our players on message boards and in emails. I ask that people remember that whenever you post or send an email that it creates a digital fingerprint. It is perfectly fine to be passionate but please no threats or cussing. Thank you.
I am still surprised that a non story has become a story. One of the reasons we worked so hard to keep a Red building with our fans is that we didn’t want a lot of media attention about a “house divided” and we wanted an environment that was all Red clad. In doing so successfully, we have created another media event about how we did it and whether it was the right thing to do. At a time like this, all I can say is that “to thine own self be true”. Click here for the story. If you can believe it, I am getting emails from two Caps fans saying this isn’t the right thing for us to do but “It is what it is and I am what I am.” So sorry about that.
I received 4 emails from fans out of the area that weren’t able to view the game on television. While it is NOT our responsibility to manage cable affiliations, we are calling the NHL and Comcast to try to help. We care.
I apologize to the Capitals fan who wrote me an email to say I was too excited and that cheering at the end of the game was “not classy” and that I should act like ownership in Pittsburgh. I also apologize to the fan who is very mad at us for not providing him and his family with free tickets because as he said “this has become a business to you and not sports anymore.” We are doing our best to have 100 percent customer satisfaction but as you can see, it is very difficult to make all of the people happy all of the time. We will keep trying our best though. I am serious.
OK. Rest up and enjoy the moment. Don’t get too high with the highs or too low with the lows. Try to be happy. Carpe diem and onward. Go Caps!
It’s so awesome to see an owner in this area like you Ted. Seriously. I’ll be honest I’m a huge caps fan but the Redskins are my #1. However when it comes to owners you are by a mile my favorite in the area, scratch that, in all of sports. Pay no attention to the critics. It’s awesome seeing you wearin your caps jersey, and cheering with the passion you do. you don’t see that out of the 95% of robot owners out there. As far as making sure only Caps fans get tickets to home playoff games; THANK YOU. The verizon center is our house, we earned the right to drown them with our sea of red. After all its called “home ice advantage” for a reason. Its been awesome seeing the transformation of this team the past couple years, and you deserve much of the credit for puttin and keeping a team like this together. Thank You Ted! Let’s Unleash the FURY!! Here’s to 5 more weeks of hockey and a REALLY big cup, GO CAPS!!!
“I apologize to the Capitals fan who wrote me an email to say I was too excited and that cheering at the end of the game was “not classy” and that I should act like ownership in Pittsburgh.”
Why in the world would you do that? That you cheer for your own team and actually, you know, care about your team is exactly why I love this franchise. tell whoever sent that email to you to go ahead and take a seat next to Don Cherry in the curmudgeon bin.
I am thrilled with the caps and our progess. I am very concerned about the crosscheck to Varley. Why wasn’t there a suspension? He also appeared to try a vicious chop on Green too moments after the Varley crosscheck. Those two looked like attempts to injure.
Ted,
Outside of building an incredibly exciting hockey team one of the VERY best things you’ve done is keep the building Rockin’ Red! It doesn’t get much worse than going to a game against the Pens or Flyers and have their fans cheer as loudly as ours. I absolutely love the current setup. Now that is home-ice advantage!
Hello Ted
I’m Carey from Kamloops BC Canada , I watch all the Caps hockey games on NHL ticket, so gratful, otherwise I couldn’t see Ovie , Greener and the rest of the exciting brand of Caps hockey. The Caps loud fans come through Loud and clear and the fans contribute mightily to the Caps Game EXCITEMENT !!!! Let’s Get the Cup ! Love to see Obama at a game , so he can see and feel the BEST game on earth. I know you had some tough times , but you deserve everything great that is happening right now !!!
You ARE THE BEST OWNER IN SPORTS , and you have many west coast Canadian Cap fans cheering with you
Be Proud Ted , be VERY Proud
Ted — I couldn’t disagree more with those who have criticized your demeanor. In fact, I was watching last night thinking what a class act you are, looking very much like the proud, self-possessed owner (and fan) you are. When they cut to a shot of you after a great play, you often seem pleased, but you always have a look on your face that says, “That’s great, but let’s keep our focus right to the end…” (Coach Boudreau usually has about the same look — you both set a solid, classy tone.)
Thanks for putting together a team and season that we can all enjoy so much!
GREAT GAME!! The wife and I were in the stands. A few random comments:
- Its amazing how much energy is in VC during a playoff game. We’ve been to quite a few regular season games… but WOW, this was good stuff.
- We noticed very few Pens fans in the stands.. and thought that was great!! Keep up the good work!
- We did see one female Pens fan escorted from Section 410… after throwing her BRA down the steps. No kidding. (I don’t know if she actually removed it during the game, or just had it with her and decided she didn’t need it anymore). As she was leaving, a guy behind us made a comment along the lines of ‘Goodbye… and take your B-cups back to Pittsburgh’. LOL!!
- During the game I wondered how many of the Refs were born in Pennsylvania.
- Just before the third period all 4 Refs were talking to the Pens bench. I wondered if the conversation was something like “Hey, how’s the family.. good game, we’ll get you one here in a few minutes…”. Just saying…
- Thought CRosbY’s whining over the hats was classic. When I saw him skating with the ref, I told the wife that he was complaining about something. Nailed that one.. lol
- Despite the emails you get to the contrary, I thought the give-a-ways were plentiful. Especially the shirt drop after the game.
- Too bad Brashear isn’t back for the next game. I’d love to see him and Kunitz have a chat about the crosscheck on Varly.
- Sloan did great. The depth the club has is fantastic.
- Did you ‘cowbell’?? If so, I didn’t hear it… but to be honest, most of the time I couldn’t hear anything anyway.. it was that loud!!
Onward Caps!!
I think your ticket policy rocks! I don’t want fans from the opposing team in VC at all! I think home town fans should be allowed to fill that place to the brim!
Kunitz is not being punished with a suspension, supposedly he is going to be fined. What the heck is that? Here pay us a little cash and we will call your bad behavior ok? NHL has it wrong on so many levels and their inconsistency in handling this stuff is sickening.
As for cheering please continue to do so! I love the fact that you are at the games. I love that you actually care about the team, the community and the fans!
Let’s Go Caps!!!
Ted: The fact that Chris Kunitz is not getting suspended for his hit on Varlamov further illustrates the horrible job he is doing as the league’s disciplinarian. Blair Betts did the exact same thing to Donald Brashear several seconds before Brashear gave him his allegedly dirty hit. Malkin had several suspension-worthy hits during the Penguins-Flyers series. Mike Brown of the Ducks got nothing for his barbaric hit of Juri Hudler in the Wings-Ducks series. I can go on and on. Apparently, the only thing that matters to Campbell is if you get hurt. Ted, as an owner, isn’t there something you can do to voice concern about the league’s discipline policy, particularly Colin Campbell? It’s getting really ridiculous.
Ted,
You have truly built a great team, and a great franchise. I’ve been a Caps fan for 20 years, and can honestly say this is the most exciting team i’ve ever seen. Two requests:
1. Take Dan Snyder out to lunch, and teach him how to build a franchise (aka – start w a good GM)
2. Lets to with ‘Unleash the Fury’ over ‘Rock the Red’ – it’s a bit darker, but more importantly, portrays how we play in the third period!
GO CAPS!
Ted,
Keep doing what you doing. I am a Season Ticket Holder in sec 117 and it was all Caps Fans For Game 1 and 2. Ignore that ignorant 1% of population. No matter what you do they will always exist and there is nothing you can do. But what you can do is remember that 99% of the people are behind you and appreciate everything you have done for this Team, Community, City.
Thank you TED! PLEASE DON’T CHANGE A THING!
GO CAPS!
Thanks for your honesty and dedication. Unfortunately.. we can’t expect everyone to be mature enough to understand the constraints the ownership faces now that we are so wildly successful. I guess you’ll have to continuously appeal to the people posting nasty stuff with your appropriate requests for appropriate behaviour.
by the way.. don’t forget to get some sleep! and take care of yourself, too.
Ted,
Very happy for you with all of the long-awaited results in the playoffs. As a lifelong Caps fans now living in New York, I can not recall things being this exciting. During all of those disappointing playoff appearances in the 80s and 90s, the media was clamoring for the team to be gutted and rebuilt in championship format. You did just that, and had those same experts criticizing you.
Great job!
David
Teddy, I gave you a break and didn’t E Mail you. But I have to say “Oh my God, what a FANTASTIC playoff game”. I think I need to buy a cowbell, my pots and pans are dented. Goalie! Goalie! Goalie! As far as the rangers, they didn’t have the love or the RELENTLESS DETERMINATION of this unique TEAM!!! And it’s always The Team. Every game, there is a different player that brings the energy that sets this TEAM on fire. Last night was VARLAMOV! The commentators talked about him being tested. Well I’d say he passed with flying RED colors! During the pregame interview with OVECHKIN my husband couldn’t believe how humble he is. And then he goes out on the ice and gets a hat trick!! It was great. As I have said before, I am amazed by your willingness to put yourself out there. It is always sincerely appreciated!!!
And now we get the word that Kunitz will not be suspended.
This is not right.
Mr. Leonsis,
Back in 98 when you first purchased the team I could only afford tickets in the “Eagles Nest”. Once I was leaving my seat there you were, standing in the corridor extending your hand in friendship. You shook my hand and said “thank you for coming out to the game”. I challenge anyone who reads this blog to show me ONE other instance where an owner of a professional sports team ventures up to the “cheap seats”and thanks the fans for their attendance and support.
For every “fan” that has something to criticize you for, there are 1000 real fans that appreciate you, your management team and the players themselves. You have truly created an environment of “Hockey Utopia” unlike anything I have seen since going to Caps games in 1974 as a young Cub Scout.
Your class and your emotion for this team is what makes you the great owner and fan that you are. I am a proud season ticket holder that no longer sits in the Eagles Nest, but 6 rows below you in section 101 (I’m the guy in the red jersey). The reason for my investment in the tickets, was your investment into the long term future of this team and to be there when your dream of Lord Stanley’s Cup comes to fruition.
Thank you for being you… Let’s Go Caps !!!
Ted,
You’re absolutely right in putting the priority in growing the hockey base in Washington, rather than catering to fans from an opposing team. That’s not discrimination, in the legal sense, it’s good business practice. A Pens fan might want to get into 6 games a year (2 regular season, up to 4 post season), but a Caps fan who catches the fever during the playoff run may support the team for up to 54 games a year. Which customer would any sane business manager want to cater to?
Unfortunately, the NHL is furthering the impression that there is a significant bias within the league officiating and management. Yes, the Caps committed some stupid fouls during the season and during the series, but they were one of the most penalized home teams all around, and as has been seen in the playoffs, calls which are instantly called against the Caps are all but ignored against the Rangers or Penguins. Last night’s assault on Varlamov and the subsequent lack of meaningful punishment is further proof of the bias in the league. I get that the referee has a lot of people to watch around the net, but how do both referees miss goaltender interference and a cross-check to the head of the goalie. This wasn’t off in a corner, it was right in front of the net. How is that not Exhibit A in biased refereeing?
Patience, Hockey Mom. We’ll see what the league does, but I agree with you and others that for equitability’s sake, Kunitz should not be seen for the rest of this series.
The one real difference between the Brashear incident and the Kunitz hit was that Brashear hit someone who wasn’t involved with the play when he hit him. He was sending a late message. Kunitz on the other hand was illegally whacking someone who was the most crucial player on the ice for the defense at the very moment of the foul, and who was right in the middle of the play going on around him. Obviously the refs can’t see everything, but just as obviously, the final score of that game should have been 4-2, not 4-3. Crosby’s hat trick was in a very real sense illegitimate.
Ted, in the end its your team you should be able to do whatever you like with it. I love that I don’t have to hear the “Let’s go Penguins/Rangers/Flyers/Red Wings” anymore. Having all Caps fans is creating more and more energy consistently at the games. The complaints should go down now that you’re basically sold out for season tickets! Do you or the Caps organization make any formal request to the NHL to review plays like the Kunitz cross-check on Varly? What’s your view on the NHL’s current (inconsistently implemented) ‘policy’ of taking into account the result of the play – i.e. the degree of injury? Consider the McSorely stick to Brashear’s head…what if he had missed, would that have made it all ok?
Oh, be sure to count me in on the free tickets and limo ride to the next game too, thanks!
Ted,
As a hockey mom, I am appalled by the double standard constantly on display by the NHL when it comes to handing out suspensions/consequences for illegal hits, and what this double standard means to our youth hockey players. This issue makes my blood absolutely boil!!! Is there anything we fans can do to light a fire around this issue (translation – the Kunitz hit on Varly’s throat). Here is my post to the NHL’s article on OV being upset about it… pls tell those of us equally concerned how we can perhaps constructively advance this issue. Thanks.
Zero Tolerance Only Applies to African American Hockey Players?
Come on… how many of our youth hockey players are watching this series? How can you explain to them that the “grown-ups” have a double standard when it comes to late and dirty hits!? What Brash did was wrong and he received MORE than adequate consequences – and so should Kunitz or anyone else that makes a late and/or illegal hit. Last time I checked, hitting someone in the throat with your hockey stick is NOT legal. And it’s not up to the fans or anyone else except the NHL officials to decide “how hard” a cross-check is or isn’t, especially when it’s to a completely vulnerable area such as the throat.
Let’s remember prime-time hockey is a family sport, gentlemen. What are we demonstrating to our youth? Let’s NOT be like the NBA and turn professional hockey players into rotten role models with sleazy ethics, and hockey into a hypocritically administered sport with multiple standards.
Respectfully,
Concerned/Outraged Hockey Mom (complete w/ lipstick)
I have adopted the Caps as my team of choice after years and years and years of underwhelming and losing teams in Toronto.
The Washington fans are lucky to have an owner like Mr. Leonis. I am in shock that people complain that an owner actually cares about the team’s performance, fan base and home ice advantage. Well done, Mr. Leonis.
Please Ted. Don’t let the very minor minority get you upset. There will always be people who look to put down others and there will always be media who overhype things.
The ticket policy would only matter if Verizon Center did not sell out. If it sells out and it’s mostly Caps fans… so be it!
There is nothing wrong with an owner showing his emotion. That’s the fun of being lucky enough to buy a team.
No matter what happens in the rest of this series, true Caps fans are having the time of their lives watching your team. Thank you for making this happen!
Hey Ted. The fan that didn’t like you cheering…… was his name Don Cherry?
“Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”
Keep up the good work – you and everything you’ve done for this organization are absolutely fantastic. I was pleasantly surprised at the lack of Pens fans at Games 1 & 2 – it’s called home-ice advantage for a reason!
Ted, will you please buy the Redskins?
And, also, as a fan I will miss Brash if he is not back next season. Thanks for Cap’s hockey!
You’re doing great! Rock on!
Sell tickets to whom ever you want and cheer when ever you feel like it. It’s your team and I don’t hear Caps fans as a whole upset or complaining.
People need to really get over themselves.
And how tired am I of hearing about how classy this is or isn’t….It’s hockey not the Opera
Ted, great game and atmosphere. Since you are going for 100% customer satisfaction, as a customer, I demand the following:
-a Nissan GT-R
-a 300 level suite 4 LIFE
-a large campaign donation so I can run for DC emperor
-you starting a revolt among your fellow owners to replace Gary Bettman with me
-a college fund for my future children; if they are too lazy to get into college, the fund must be turned into the “BMW convertible for each kid” buying fund
-you and Mario Lemieux to have a no-holds barred, nationally televised, pay-per-view pie eating contest with ticket proceeds going to me
I believe this is a more than generous offer and anxiously await your positive response. If you respond in the negative, you obviously run a substandard organization that does not know how to treat its customers and I will switch my fandom to the Toronto Argonauts.
Hey Ted,
Thank you soooooo much for accomplishing what you have with this team. I have been a die hard fan since the mid 80′s. Driving to Landover with my Pops was our way of bonding. Its so wonderful to have a team that is so exciting.
Two things. 1)I attempted to email Gary Bettman and Colin Campbell in regards to taking a look at Kunitz’s vicious cross check on Varly. A)this proves i have no life and B) I don’t even know if i had their correct emails.
2) While at game 2 of the first round series, I noticed that the big jumbo tron was playing “instant replays” in the middle of live action. What gives with that idea? I was sitting about 5 rows behind the penalty box and needed the jumbo tron if the puck went into the corners. I thought it was ludicrous that their were “instant replays” being shown in the middle of the play. Is there a strategy there?
Keep up your great work and once again, thank you so much.
Now could you buy the Orioles and turn them around please?
mr ted..another franchice first win 5 in a row in postseason beena lot of them this year eh..ted let me ask you somthing..every time you think about this great caps team and the path its on 10 wins away from lord stanley instead of 35yrs of oh well maybe next season..does it bring chills down your spine like mine…to see this little glimmer like we saw in 98…that year we had a venz and a good d..this year we have all thats needed…thanks buddy…lets go caps..98caps
So right on so many levels here. But definitely please do keep on cheering for the team. One of the great things about being a part of the Caps fan community is knowing that one of us owns the team!
You know Ted, it is frustrating to me, as a relatively new fan, that you are confronted by so many negative reactions.
I am now a Hockey fan, in general, and a Caps fan, in particular, because I recognize the commitment you have made as an owner to building a winner here in Washington. Clearly, it has been a learning process for you. There have been glaring and expensive errors made along the way. It turned out that there was no “quick fix.” Instead, it took patience, and a progression of clear, attainable goals.
Look at this team now… Look at the state of Hockey in this town…
I, for one, love the effort you’ve put into turning Verizon Center into a genuinely hostile environment for opposing teams. The energy that the team can now count on for home games has become a real factor in the success of the franchise. That you would prefer to eat the costs associated with empty seats, rather than have them filled by visiting fans is as great a testament to your commitment as anything else you have undertaken in turning this program around (and flies directly in the face of any argument suggesting that you’re “all business”).
Finally, the last thing professional sports needs is another inaccessible, stone-faced owner. I hope that when the Verizon cameras put you up on the scoreboard, and you hear the supportive roar of the crowd, that you know that *we* know that we have the best owner in the NHL, the best owner in DC, and maybe the best owner in all of professional sports.
Be excited Ted. Be emotionally invested. Be yourself.
Free tickets!?!? Don’t we all want free tickets. Hey maybe the players will play for free too!!! Geez…..
Here’s to playing like I know we can and winning in Pittsburgh!
As a loud & proud fan who keeps it clean … I LOVE what you have done, and know how much thought and effort went into creating the supuerb atmosphere that IS RED! and is definitely rockin’! Also know we’re far from done. I have many friends that are Pens fans, I know they are a team to contend with and fates turn easily, as you so clearly remind us. I am keeping it real, keeping the vibes up, and will be meeting up with fellow fans I’ve met on twitter for game 3! GO CAPS! And thanks for being the best owner in sports, Ted!
Ted,
I hope you are taking to heart what you wrote. Please don’t let the lows get to you. You truly are the BEST owner in the game. I look forward to seeing you on TV each and every game. You enthusiasm about the team is what brought this team around. I had season tickets when we went to the Stanley Cup in 98, and even thought I can no longer afford season tickets, I have a season pass to my TV. I wear my Caps gear at home and scream as much at home as I did at the game.
Keep up the good work. I am heading to Wilkes-Barre this weekend to cheer on the Bears. Our future looks amazing. We will be right up there with Detroit for a very long time.
Oh come on, I want free tickets too because as an owner you have the gall to not want to lose millions of dollars on a BUSINESS venture. Are you sure that “fan” wasn’t being sarcastic?
i bet your inbox gives you a laugh each and every day, doesn’t it Ted?
yeah ted, you should act like you lost and look just like mario. i just wanted to give that big lug a hug at the end of the game.
and i waited at home for the caps limo to pick me up and take me to your suite at the game but it never came. what gives?
and also, please do not let anyone where hats to any future games lest they rudely throw them on the ice the next time a cap gets a hat trick. it unnecesarily delays the game and upsets the delicate sensibilities of the other team.
in the words of a certain coach who appeared on the kiss cam last night, “stay medium”. GO CAPS!
As an out of town Caps fan (I recently moved to Raleigh-Durham), it would be frustrating for me to have to buy tickets from a “secondary ticket market” (read: legal ticket scalping/gouging). However, I appreciate your effort to allow Caps fans to buy tickets for their HOME games. In the end, I think you’re doing the “right thing.”
As for complaints about not cheering for your team, that’s ridiculous. Keep cheering, Ted. It’s your team, and you’ve earned it. And for fan upset about not receiving free tickets, what makes him feel so entitled to them? Not that I’d turn down free tickets to my beloved Caps, but I’m not going to *expect* anyone to give them to me just because I ask and am a fan.
Keep up with the positive energy, Ted. Bring on Game 3!
Ted,
You Rock. The Caps Rock. It feels so good to root for a team that is all positive. To have an owner that we can believe in, a team that we can believe in, whose superstars we can have confidence will wear the red for a long time – a sustainable contender – just feels awesome. It’s just nothing but good positive vibes. Beating the Pens would be sweet. Winning a Cup would be amazing. But having a contender year in and year out is the best. I’ve been a lifelong Caps fan and what you’ve done is create an amazing experience for every hockey fan in DC. Even my ‘friends’ from Pittsburgh are impressed with what is going on in DC. We are morphing into a genuine hockey town! Keep on doing what you’re doing, Ted!!!
You are doing the right thing about promoting the red outs. Ignore the naysayers. And as was pointed out on XM radio yesterday, Pittsburgh did the same thing in the playoffs last year. Funny how we never hear about that.
Ted,
Thanks for what you have done for hockey in DC.
I was wondering if there is any recourse for the Capitals if the NHL decides not to do anything to protect our goaltender? I thing that with the 5 game suspension for Brash for the hit on Betts, if the NHL has any concern for consistancy, Kunitz needs to be suspended for at least 3-4 games.
Once again, thanks for bringing exciting hockey to DC.
I still disagree with you about the ticketing policy, but that doesn’t have anything to do with cheering the team on and being enthralled by such an Instant Classic.
Keep on cheering Ted, I sit in 102 right in front of you and can tell that you feel all the same emotions we do when watching the game. What’s the point in owning a sports team if you can’t cheer for them? I also 100% approve of your ticket tactics, they spare me from being flooded by pens fans during warm-ups. What a great game, I’ll remember this one forever. LETS GO CAPS!
Let’s Go Caps! Thanks for all your support, hard-work and level-headedness, Uncle Ted! The plan is working and this is the BEST time to be a Caps fan! Rock the Red! Let’s Go Caps!
Ted, the fact that you are a fan, and show your excitement is exactly why you ARE a great owner. Don’t let anyone tell you to be like anyone else. You’re a breath of fresh air in professional sports ownership. And why did a fan think you owed them free tickets? I’m curious.
Ted,
was a top 5 sporting event for me rivaling the Bad Boys sweep of the Lakers in ’89and Kirk Gibson’s homerun to clinch WS victory in ’84 and the Wings beating the AVs to get to the Stanley Cup in ’97. all of which i attended.
not classy? is the fan kidding?…that had to be a $2K suit you were in, what could be more classy than cheering in that?!
are you shaving the beard if Caps win the Cup?
TL
what a game, what an arena, what a franchise
Ted,
Great game last night. As for pleasing people, Bill Cosby once said, “You can please some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but NEVER all of the people all of the time.” Games 3 and 4 should be fun and will be hard fought. I agree with you that Kunitz should definitely be suspended for his cross-check on Varly. That was uncalled for, unsportsmanlike and unprofessional.