Home cooking works to date.
We won our two games at home. They won their two games at home. Winning at home is what good teams do. And the Penguins are a very good team.
We move to Game 5 tonight at home. We need our hometown fans to provide us with a spark of energy. Both teams will be tight and tired having to play back to back games.
We worked hard all year to achieve home ice advantage. I am hopeful that that hard work is now rewarded. Come one come all. Be united. Rock the Red more than ever!
This has become one heck of a series with lots of drama; lots of back and forth; lots of heart; and lots of controversy. But did you honestly expect anything else? I didn’t.
Onward. Rest up those vocal chords today. Then be loud and proud tonight! Go Caps!
Everyone who has ever watched playoff hockey knows that penalties are called differently in the playoffs than in the regular season. The games are not fixed or predetermined. Quit whining, stand up, and support your team. You may not like the calls, but on the other hand, you can’t win a series with only 2 or 3 players actually playing.
Ted, why do my “Go Pens” comments not get posted, but a Caps fan whining endlessly about the officiating and how the NHL is like staged wrestling does?
Do you think that the team your own is participating in a staged sport???
(And will you post this???)
Jon –
You asked who gets the benefit? The season ticket holders that support the team all year – not for just a few games and some playoff games – when I tell my family who are season ticket holders in other areas how little we pay for our tickets – they are amazed! If you love the Caps so much – support them! Buy a season ticket and reap the rewards of much more than low prices.
Elsa, again with the excuses. Ice, Yanni, Refs… you have to OVERCOME in the playoffs, Folks. If there really was no line because there is little precedent for a ‘home and home’, and if Vegas can’t shift the risk they don’t take the bet. This is heresay, and seemingly third-hand heresay.
I hear caps fan were pretty tough on Pens fans that made it through your gates at the VC. Care to comment, Ted? I mean it IS your example of mistreating hockey fans in general and poor sportsmanship they are following.
Come on guys, officiating wasn’t the reason the Caps lost yesterday. The reason is that they’re playing a goalie who spent almost the whole season either in the minors or on the bench. Varlamov was great for a few games but he simply isn’t where he needs to be for the Caps to beat such a formidable foe. In a few years that will be different.
The tripping call was definitely warranted. In OT the refs will only call the most blatant of fouls and such was the trip, while those minor things Ted and Bruce were referring too weren’t. The Caps had luck on their side the first two games as well as in regulation of game three, that has since changed. The series isn’t over yet, so it might change again.
You’re still in it, let’s go Caps!
The blog is a joke. I bet on the game. Caps were favored
Tough loss (but a great game)last night, Ted. The series is not over by a long shot. Let’s Go Caps!
That was heartbreaking.
I am fine to lose when it is because the Capitals mess up but to be screwed over by the refs (and I hate pulling that card but that is what happened & this isn’t the first time in the series it has happened.) is just wrong & beyond frustrating. And I am only a fan I can only imagine how the team feels. Something needs to be done about this officiating it is so obviously bias. It is to the point where if I didn’t love the Capitals so much I would say forget it and never watch or go to another nhl game again. Of course that won’t happen because I love the Capitals so much that I travel over 500 miles just to see them play but I feel like I am watching the WWE and not hockey because everything is pre-determined. I am not giving up on the Capitals because I will always believe in them and it’s not over until the pens win 4 but a part of me is telling me even though I believe in the Caps and never will stop believing in them that I should prepare for heartbreak again because the refs are helping the pens out big time. But I will worry about that if it happens until then Let’s Go Caps!!!!!
Ted,
We, a non-original 6, non-Canadian team will never get past a team with a Canadian star (Crosby/Lecavalier etc) as long as Don Cherry’s zebra-striped disciples patrol the ice. If you’re waiting for that OT PP in the playoffs, keep waiting, it’ll never happen.
Make a stink. Make a big stink. We’ve been getting screwed for far far too long.
Sapper
whats ted take from game 5?
Ted, CapsNut is reporting on his blog that the fix was in for the Penguins to win this game. If this is true, we should all be outraged.
“…We were informed shortly after the game began tonight by our parents, who are spending their retirement (among other things) in Las Vegas, that after crowning the Caps as favorites in Games 1 through 4, there was no line set for tonight’s game.
In other words, Las Vegas knew the fix was in and wasn’t taking any bets.”
http://capsnut.blogspot.com/
Ovie is doing everything he can possibly do for this team. It’s time his teammates stepped up (with the exception of Backstrom who has been very good). In particular, he may be young but Mike Green needs to show up Monday night. He hasn’t played as well as he is capable of playing. In fact, he is playing his worst hockey of the season. He is too good a player to be struggling like he is. Lets Go Caps!
Ted: This team is an unmitigated disaster; what happened? Not winning game 3 after the stellar performance from Varlamov will prove this team’s undoing – Boudreau was right. When you get a performance like that and don’t win, it’s devastating. Series over. See you next year. Thanks for a great season.
Ted, the way the end of the game went down tonight is not the way a season should be potentially decided. I would not blame coach Boudreau if he were suspended before Monday’s game – the officiating was that bad at the crucial time. The Penguins fans knew it too — they sneaked out of the building very quietly and discreetly. Intelligent on their part.
Teddy, I BELEIVE The Caps best game for this series has yet to be played. We will rest up and on Monday, May 11, we will win on the Penguins turf. The Caps will come home to take the series!! Lets get those GOOD VIBRATIONS charged up and circulating. Rock the Red!! Lets Go Caps!!!!!!!!!!!
Win or lose this series, one thing is clear. Our defensive corps just isn’t good enough yet. I think they will be eventually but right now they aren’t and the Penguins are exposing them. However, I will keep the faith as I believe our future is very bright and it ain’t over yet. Go Caps!
LOL…I expected drama HOWEVER, I am also expecting to win tonight AND to win this series! That was a SLOW agonizing game on Friday night….Come on Guys…skate that fast game I know you can…and blow them out of the arena!!!!!! Happy Mother’s Day…can’t think of a better gift than a WIN tonight!
Ted did you think that the ovechkin hit was dirty.
Ted,
Love the blog, love the team, and love the passion you have for your job as owner of the Caps; however, I do not love the ticket prices for the playoffs. Yes, I know your team has among the lowest ticket prices in the league, but the prices for the playoffs are a bit much.
I feel that the average person is priced out of the playoffs. The avid fan who has purchased a number of seats for regular season tickets and a couple of playoff games is excluded from the culmination of a fan’s journey with the team, that culmination coming in the crazy atmosphere that is the playoffs.
Who gets the benifit? Fans that never follow the team until a playoff run. While I’m happy to see the building full and loud, I can’t help but think the average person and hardcore fan can’t partake in the joy of a playoff game.
The first hockey game at Verizon Center, Ovechkin’s first game, Kolzig’s 300th win, and game 7 in the first round last year are just some of the great memories I have taken away from the watching the Capitals live. I want more memories in the future.
To the best owner in sports.
Lets pray for tonight’s game. I believe in them and they know they can win this. Nothing is impossible. LETS GO CAPS
I can’t be there tonight Ted, but I put a good friend in my seats and he and his son will be rocking the red.
Let’s go Caps!
Rock the Red! I think the Caps will pull this one off.
The sea of red needs to be the 7th man tonight. Show Varly how much we appreciate him and what he has done. Cheer Ovie when has the the puck rather than boo Crosby or Malkin. I still believe!
Right on, Ted. Let’s Go Caps!!