That is what we have to do now. It is win or go home time again. We played a fine game last night as did Pittsburgh. The difference in both our team’s play is very small. We can’t whine about the outcome. We must remain positive and focus on the task at hand on Monday night.
I thought both teams played brilliantly last night. It was great playoff hockey and it showcased the best the NHL has to offer.
We have the odds stacked against us now so what else is new? Eighty-five percent of the time, the team that wins Game 5 and then plays Game 6 at home wins the series. We have faced long odds before. We must remain upbeat; play one shift at a time; win out period by period; and we must stay focused for a full 60 minutes. If we do that, we can come home for a Game 7. Pittsburgh is a great team and played very well last night although I thought we deserved better. Our play was of high quality and we played to our capabilities.
I was thinking as I walked out of the building last night that in ten years of ownership, nine seasons of play and five playoff series; WE have never been up 5 men to 4 in OT. I remember losing two games to Tampa on a 5 on 3 and 5 on 4 in OT. I remember losing Game 7 last season to the Flyers in OT on a 5 on 4 and last night the same fate awaited us. I thought the officiating was good last night. There were only 3 penalties called all game. I thought we could have drawn 2 penalties in OT and been up 5 men on 4 but thus we were the team to draw the call and went down 5 on 4 and there you go, another OT loss while we have a man in the box.
The formula for us is simple. Do not allow the on ice officials to play a role in the game. End the game in regulation with a win or just stay out of the box by playing with more discipline. In Game 3 – which we lost in OT – we were shorthanded because we created a game delay penalty. Staying out of the box is crucial for us. Every game but one this series has been decided by one goal. We have lost two games in OT where our own D men have deflected shots into our own goal. We shouldn’t put ourselves into that position. We just need to put that all behind us and focus on more positive outcomes and on Monday night.
Notes:
I noticed several fisticuff related events in the stands last night. That is unacceptable and it doesn’t matter to me and us who provoked what. Safety and security are our primary deliverables in the arena and I am asking again for our fans to please show restraint and honor. I also want to note that opposing team fans must also show some restraint. Making an obscene gesture and taunting fans is not safe. All fans are responsible for their own safety and I am hopeful our fans will never act in this manner in another city. NHL playoff hockey is all about intensity and emotion. However there is a line that shouldn’t be crossed by any and all fans and I am simply making a plea for some decorum and better manners to help assure a quality experience for everyone.
I was very disappointed in some of our fans that threw bottles, pom-poms and coins onto the ice at the end of the game. We will enforce all measures against you if we find out who is responsible. Please behave. Our fans and our city and our players deserve it.
OK. We head out to Pittsburgh on Monday. We prepare today and tomorrow for the most important game of our season. Win or go home for us. Wish us luck. We hope to see everyone again on Wednesday night back in DC.
Teddy, I have my red hat and pots and pans in the ready position. I know The Caps are hungry and will pound the penguins with shots on goal! I feel VICTORY in my bones. It’s May 11, a good day. Rock the Red. Lets Go Caps!!!
I think everyone needs to face a couple of facts here.
(1) I do not condone the fan behaviour at the end of the game. Out of certain Pens fans or Caps fans. But let’s realize one thing — a part of the reason this happens is because people are egged on to get caught up in the passion. Why? Because it’s part of the marketing plan, and part of the strategy to make the opponent feel as uncomfortable as possible. Statistics will tell you the problem with this — there will be an extreme 1% of the population who will get caught up in it to such an extent that they cross certain barriers that the other 99% see as inviolate. Again, as one of the 99% I don’t condone this. But I know it is very likely to happen. We should not be surprised. And maybe we ought to tone down the violence-oriented marketing just a bit. If you stoke up the passion of a large number of people, the small percentage at the extremes will cause difficulty.
(2) Whether expressed appropriately or inappropriately, the attitude of Caps fans at the end of the game was perfectly justifiable. Because frankly, the officiating toward the end of the game was unjustifiable. I have seen lots of fan comments and columnist comments during this series about the disparity of penalties, saying that the Penguins skaters are being more aggressive and skilled and causing more penalties to be taken. Let’s assume for the moment that this is the reason for the overall series disparity – and I think the explanation has some merit. The fact is, that the Caps began the overtime by taking it to the Pens, so by that explanation it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect that the Pens would need to take a penalty at some point. And they did. The trip on Semin, after a couple of other chances the Caps had around the net, was clear, blatant, and out in the open ice where it couldn’t possibly be missed. But nothing was called. And then, after the Pens had nothing going for the majority of their power play after the Malkin trip, one of the Caps defenders [Gordon] was clearly a victim of interference as the Pens started the last rush up ice. Again, clear, blatant, and out on open ice, and committed by the team that, given the power play situation, was playing less effectively at the moment. You can’t have it both ways, expecting penalties when you are playing effectively and expecting to have your penalties called when you are not. This is not whining. It is simply the reality of what took place at the end of Saturday’s game.
(3) The Penguins fans really have nothing to say about the Ovechkin/Gonchar encounter unless they have something equivalent or more to say about the Kunitz check to Varlamov’s throat. The Ovechkin move was a skating move done in an instant, in the heat and full context of play. There can’t be anything premeditated about a move when things are happening so fast, and it was a “sort of natural” body move when maybe the opponent moves in a little different way than you had planned for. A cross-check to the throat, while it happened in the context of play, is in no way a “sort of natural” move. It is seen and taught as a totally inappropriate way to use one’s stick. Let’s face up to these incidents for what they really are.
I’ll add that Crosby was out of line complaining about the delay. It’s an NHL tradition and there was nothing out of the ordinary on the fans’ part. I don’t know what a normal response involves, but the arena personnel are responsible for hustling the stuff off the ice asap. The delay doesn’t really favor either side, but in a game which only grants one timeout per side per contest, longer delays undermine the great fluidity of the game.
geez! i didn’t realize pens fans were so nervous that they need to spend so much time reading ted’s blog. i’ve never visited the penguins website, never felt a need.
Caps will win tonight to face a game 7 at Verizon where we will close them out. Its a good test. I’m confident Ovie and the fellas will pull it out!!
The trash throwing was very humiliating to true Caps fans who want to represent the team in a dignified way. Most Caps fans were showing restraint when taunted by obnoxious Pens fans during and after the game. I know this would never happen but it would be better to not serve alcohol at these events. We are all there for the hockey game and that should be enough.
Ted,
You’re incredibly wealthy thus you must be pretty smart so I figure you know the definition of “contradiction”, right?
Paragraph one you say “We can’t whine…” yet in paragraph 4 you do exactly that, you whine. That’s a contradiction. You’ve whined about the officiating on multiple occasions as well as the back-to-back games.
Please answer this, do you really think the referees and league officials sat down in a secret meeting and discussed how they could ensure the Pens won the series? Do you think Gary Bettman called Bill McCreary and Eric Furlatt just before Game 5 OT began to ensure they called a penalty against the Caps and not the Pens?? Are you insinuating there is a conspiracy against your team?
You are the leader of this team, please set a good example and don’t insinuate the NHL is full of cheaters, it only makes you look foolish.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2009/05/ovechkin_next_game_is_gonna_be.html
That’s all fine, but the best quote I heard still came from Pens’ defenseman Brooks Orpik, who was asked if the sound of silence after the game-winner was the best sound in the world. He paused. Then he said that the sound of silence in Philadelphia was better.
“That’s just because the fans here, the fans here are a lot classier,”* Orpik said. “But that was pretty good, that was a pretty good second.”
* Offer does not include the fans who shouted homophobic slurs about Sidney Crosby, nor the fan I saw who punched a Penguins fan in the mouth in a concession line drawing blood, nor the dozens of fans who threw bottles and balls (?) and pom-poms onto the ice in overtime.
^ I’m the one who got punched in the mouth…
I was very disappointed with the larger than normal cohort of Capitals fans that gave the true fans a bad name. We were covered in food and beer when we left. I understand that we are susceptible to verbal tirades being in another team’s stadium, but I never expected to have to fear for my own safety as a result of unprovoked threats and assaults throughout the game. I hope none of the Capitals fans ever experience this in Mellon Arena.
I am starting to agree with Bill.B above. While I am not an advocate of violence, if “security” isn’t helping, you leave it in the hands of the people that are being abused and threatened. No one is there to put up with the so-called Penguins fans – whether it is in our seats or walking through the concourse during breaks…I haven’t seen many that are classy individuals. As with every team, I am sure there are some. But they don’t come to our games.
It’s always been this way. I don’t like having them in our building, but they are and always will be. I don’t mind them cheering for their team – just respect where you are. You are guests in our building. Meaning that you should be considered lucky to get a ticket to the game. Especially in the playoffs. Restrict away Ted…
Case in point – at the game the other night there was one of those fantastic fans in front of us. He wouldn’t shut up and he wouldn’t stop drinking. He kept standing up during play and yelling at fans. He started threatening and yelling at the guy in front of him who just turned around to ask him to stop. It was 2 seconds from seeing one less guins fan walking out the door when “Security” came by and escorted him out…..of the section – We saw him not 10 minutes later walking around the concourse still yelling and threatening people while the “security” were talking and texting on their cell phones.
People only can take so much abuse.
All that being said…I say we bring this thing home for game 7….again.
Everyone has already said everything I’m thinking. It’s frustrating and easy to complain (and I do) and VERY easy to point fingers (I do that too). So to keep my sanity I will just have to focus on the fact that I’m a Caps fan and will support them no matter the outcome. I’ve been a season ticket holder for 10 years and a fan longer than that, and I’ve seen much worse than I’m seeing now. If each Cap attacks with all his skill tonight no holds barred for a full 60, then all will be right with the world.
teddy IF we dont win game six..this old and tired long long time caps fan has had enough…iam gunna become a black hawks fan.. whats it take to play consistant..only a true championship team is capable..some times a coach has to forget feelings..everyone in the room wants the same thing…crack the whip dont be afraid..in the end everyplayer will only play as far as he is pushed..the rest is up to brucie..with the talent and the way we know it can play..this should have been over in five caps winner..but lack of consistant play..we were givin a extra with varly we would have not made it this far with out him..he plays best when he has sound play around him..its bad as a fan when in post you dont know what caps team is going to show up tonite..this is a truly great caps team..dont let them hide there light under a bushel basket…98caps
I’m a Pittsburgh expat living in DC, and I’ve witnessed my fair share of bad behavior from both sides. As big a fan as I am, it’s still just a game. A lot of people just need to cool it. Trash talking (which I’m not big on except with friends who I know can take it) should be kept clean and violence is never OK.
And for those who shout profanities and hurl debris — it has no bearing on the players. See Crosby’s postgame interview after Game 6 in the Flyers series — he has a few stragglers apoplectic sreaming at him, and he gives the interview and skates off — never acknowleding or showing an ounce of interest. I’m willing to bet that’s true %99.9 of the time for the players on both teams.
I checked las Vegas line picks this morning and they have the Caps winning game 6 by a respectable margin; so the Caps will win game 6 ensuring a game 7. The fix is in for tonight, but I also expect a fix for game 7 in which the Pens win the series. Expect an OT pp for the Pens, a non-call against the Pens, or a goal washed for the Caps for game 7. Once the bets are in, the Canadian referees on the ice will ensure the outcome by which gamblers and the NHL apparatchik will benefit most; and that’s with Canadian golden child Crosby going all the way to the Cup finals. Will the Pens win the Cup? I’ll check the betting lines when the time comes to find the answer.
Ted,
We were at the game Saturday as we have been to every playoff game this year. The behavior of the Pens fans sitting nearby has been very bad, getting right in our faces yelling and screaming as we are watching the game
so, I wouldn’t say our fans need to behave when it is hard to do that when someone is yelling in your face and poking fingers at you with security no where to be found!
What I find absolutely amazing is the amount of whining coming from the DC area. Did you hear one bit of whining from the Pens when they were down 2- 0? Nope. All you heard was, “We played well, but the other team played better, and we need to do better if we expect to win this series” It’s just hillarious that there were no bad calls at all in the series when you guys were up 2 – 0, but ever since then, the great conspiracy has kicked in to make sure the Pens advance. I’d love for someone to explain to me why the league cares one way or another who makes it to the finals. Regardless of who it is, the TV ratings are still going to be miniscule, and the league doesn’t profit any more if a big market team is playing or a team with a marketable superstar. If they were going to fix it, then why aren’t the Rangers, Maple Leafs or Kings in the finals every year? These are the biggest TV markets and would bring the league the biggest ratings. Why didn’t they fix it so the Canadians won it in the 100th anniversary?
Stop whining, admit that Pittsburgh is a deeper team, and each team has won the games it deserved to win. Your coach, your GM and your owner do a big disservice to your franchise with the constant whining about how nothing is fair, and everyone is against them.
Ted,
Was wondering if by any chance you needed tickets to the Yanni concert at Mellon Arena on Tuesday. I know a guy who can get you good seats.
The only things that should be thrown on the ice are hats, when we get a hat trick. Hope to see you at Game 7.
You were up 5 on 4 in 2003 playoffs in OT.
Mr. Leonsis, comments from Pittsburgh.I have attended Pens games in DC while my daughter lived in the DC area. It was a lot of fun but that was when the Pens fans outnumbered the Caps fans. I am all for the bantering in the stands but it cannot cross the line. I see this in Pittsburgh as well and usually too much beer is involved. I am looking forward to the game tonight. I plan on being in my seat early to enjoy the atmosphere.
Regarding all of the numbers that I see in your blog, I got this recently in a Chinese fortune cookie: “42.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot”. Enjoy the offseason, it is neigh.
Ted,
Please do follow thru on your promise to increase enforcement against rowdy fans and people throwing things on the ice. This is a HUGE disgrace for many of us long time fans. It is nice to have the building full these days but this also comes with the responsibility to show our new caps fans how to behave in an NHL arena. It will only take a few people being hauled away for a night in D.C jail to draw a clear line for our new fans to see what is acceptable and what is not.
Great post and I agree 100% with you thoughts on fan behavior. Very disappointing to see things being tossed to the ice. Win with class and lose with class. Probably another case of the few spoiling it for the many.
Best of luck tonight!
Retaliation never gets you anywhere. Players and fans alike.
I think that a lot of the frustration is that it seems the refs are against the CAPS a lot of the time. Since there is no transparency in the League, the officiating and the fans the fans fall back on the League and refs are out to get us!
There are many calls in a game, some made and some not made that are either incorrect or inconsistent or both. This infuriates fans as we see one call one minute and then the same thing not called another minute. We have seen our Goalie turned into a punching bag, a checking dummy and a wrestling partner and yet, nothing gets called, while, it seems, if we look at the opposing goalie the wrong way we get a penalty.
The Pens whine and complain that the CAPS do lots of things to their guys and nothing gets called and the next game everything under the sun is called against us (of course it didn’t help that Geno has his best game all playoffs that night).
The Caps fans are passionate and that passion is heightened exponentially since we are playing the Pens and when you feel that everyone in the NHL is out to get you, you don’t have much recourse and this time it just seemed to boil over and the fans reacted the only way they could to get someones attention.
Everyone is frustrated. Frustrated by the play of a few of our best players, frustrated by the refs on inconsistencies and frustrated that the Pens seem to be doing it to us again. It really is a difficult position as a fan. Does it excuse those that threw the items? No, but now you feel our frustration…
Ted,
Excellent point, even though I felt ill after the outcome of Saturday’s game I was even more upset at the site of the trash that was thrown on the ice by the fans. Our fans are better than this and the team needs to know that their fans still believe!
Ted, Thank you for being such a class owner! I have followed the “Caps” for their existance. Last week I got my vanity plates (Maryland) “GREAT 8″ bracketed by a wash caps lisence plate holder that i proudly display. I have tried to find a Caps bumper sticker to add but can not. could you tell me where i can purchase one? Thank you for bringing class to the NHL with ownership and coaching (gabby) GO CAPS!!!!!!!!!
Watching from overseas is difficult, but your optimism is something that all Caps fans need right now. I continue to root hard for my hometown — DC. And I’m rooting for you as well.
On a side note, I live near Cannes, France and wonder if I’ll see you here for a film festival any time soon (although I realize that timing of the festival is tricky if the Caps are playing in the playoffs)
Ted,
I know you’re trying to be diplomatic re: those past OT PK losses. But one thing they all have in common is that those PP’s for the opposing teams in OT all followed blatant non-calls against the other teams. It’s not as if we just don’t have any discipline and find ourselves on the PK year after year in crucial OT’s. The refs find a way to put us in that position every time we get close.
I wouldn’t call it a conspiracy, but there is clearly some bias there that’s working against us. Have someone run the numbers and find out how many playoff series we’ve had the advantage in PP/PK. I only found a couple in the last two decades. That’s not a statistical anomally.
Sapper
I agree Ted that about 1% of the fans that attend do need some form of discipline and restraint including the removal of their season tickets if needed. There are thousands of honorable Caps fans that would have loved to have attended the game Sat that would not have done that, nonsense. I don’t remember any thing like that in the 80′s and 90′s when i attended several Caps playoff games including the four-overtime loss in 96.
I find your comments about fan behavior more than a little offensive given your ability to sit in your nice suite and not have to deal with the Pittsburgh cretins. Tell you what, we won’t lecture you on how to prevent your team from an unbelievable choke job, and you don’t lecture us on how to protect the house. Deal?
Well, what has developed has been seen before. Pens, Caps, playoffs, bitter rivals, series leads blown, complaints, etc.
This is becoming a springtime ritual in D.C. on occasion. I can only wonder the following as I sat and enjoyed the outcome last night as the Pens skated off champs and the Caps left suffering from their own misfortunes… AGAIN.
“Haven’t the Caps learned from their mistakes yet, especially from last year vs. Philly in OT in Game 7?”
Champions learn from mistakes. You all have yet to do that.
As for the trash throwing… CLASSLESS. It leaves an impact that lasts.
Go Pens!
Ted:
Though it certainly wouldn’t be coming from you, as you put out nothing but positivity, do you think karma might be swinging around on some of these young Capitals for things that have gone on earlier in the season?
http://www.maxhockey.com/playoffs/WashingtonPittsburgh.php
Playoff games are always a small sample to go from but in the 1999-2000 season through 2007-2008 the Capitals had 7 OT playoff games. In three of those games at least one penalty was called. In two of those three (2000 vs Penguins and the first OT game against the Lightning in 2003) the only penalties called were on the Capitals. In the 2nd OT game against the Lightning both the Caps and the Lightning had Powerplays in OT and there was also a set of offsetting penalties.
So of the OT games with penalties, Caps have drawn one in 1 of the 3 games.
thanks ted for the words regarding the inappropriate actions of the fans. i flew in from los angeles and attended the game with my 10 year old face painted die hard cap fan nephew. the actions of some “cap” fans in my section (12 rows up at center ice)was inappropriate and potentially dangerous. the actions and language of some the cap fans was, as you indicated obscene, and could have induced fights and/or caused injury(there were actual beer bottles in the stands).in fact we got sprayed with beer at the end of the game by cap fans. i was embarassed for my nephew, although of course these few indivduals should not and did ruin the game for us.
the overall passion and energy in the building was great and as always lets hope a few bad fans do not spoil it for everyone. glad to see you are on it as always.
i will be on plane back to california tomorrow during the game and expect to hear news of a caps win when the plane lands. lets go caps!
Ted,
Good luck to you and the team tomorrow. Safe trip up and back home for Game 7 Wednesday.
Boston is taking care of business tonight. We’ll take a page from them and do the same tomorrow night.
GO CAPS !!
God Bless you and the team. The meek will inherit the earth but not until after hockey season.
Steve McTeague
Alexandria, VA
I’ll put it another way. We’re the classiest franchise in the league – let’s let everyone else know it too. The series is not over by a long shot. Let’s Go Caps!
Mr. L.
Very well written. It is nice to at least hear the owner be out spoken against the dangerous situations in the stands. I am a season ticket holder in Pittsburgh and I have never seen anything dangerous ever happen in the stands in my section to an opposing teams fan..Thank you for your comments.
With that said I only wish the very skilled goon wearing #8 can keep his knees to himself and stop striding and leaving his feet to give a hit.
A side from that he is truly one of the very best shooters I have ever seen play the game.
Let’s go Caps! I truly believe this team can bring it back to Washington. I am excited for tomorrow’s game and hope they don’t buy into the stats and the history of this series. With the exception of Friday’s game, the wins haven’t come easy for the talented Pens. We can do this.
Ted, Thank you for addressing the throwing of things on the ice when the game was over. I was embarrassed and surprised. Caps fans, so far have always held their heads high and proud….I hope the team didn’t see it. They only need positive energy! Thank you again for your posts, I know I appreciate them. Getting my red ready for tomorrow night!
Disappointing outcome to a fantastic game but it was well played and it didn’t go the Caps way unfortunately. 4th game is the hardest to win in a series and the Pen’s haven’t advanced yet. Ask the Rangers about that 4th game.
I was upset more at the fans throwing junk on the ice than the outcome of the game. Classless. I hope Verizon Center security can find those who threw stuff via cameras and take away their tickets. Caps have Hockey 101 for new fans, how about Fan Behavior 101? Just sayin’
“I thought both teams played brilliantly last night. It was great playoff hockey and it showcased the best the NHL has to offer.”
I really disagree. To me this game was the worst the NHL has to offer – it made me feel like I have wasted a lot of time (decades) and emotion because NHL officiating messed up again. Semin was tripped or interfered with – the subsequent letdown (lull of exasperation) enabled Malkin to take off down the ice and draw a penalty. That, when the play should have been dead. It is simple – if you don’t call the Semin then you don’t call the Malkin because the latter grew out of the former. There is no justification – either the whistle is away or there is flagrant hypocrisy. With this many penalties it is the case that officiating took over this series and ended this series.
This is not dumbtown. Look at the tape of the crowd after the game. They were not stunned, as Locker suggested. They were disgusted. The Caps are a good team but the NHL is a bad product. The arrogance of the league always rules and will not change anytime soon.
I am through with HNIC types saying that this is whining – that we as fans should suck it up, grow up, welcome to the big leagues and thank us for the lesson later. When its over they say enjoy your losses and the learning experience and “your welcome!” Remember??
Unacceptable. Refer back to the Boswell piece about Ovie’s celebration. They can have their league and their “Canadian’s do it better” sentiment. We’ll see how that works for them in a few more years of dysfunctional guidance from the Commissioner on down. They probably have no clue how damaging the Orpik comment saying “he seems to go after Russians” is. I didn’t realize that Don Cherry has relatives in San Francisco. It’s Hockey eh?
I am not new to this – I have been watching on and off for about 45 years. I was once at the boards in the Hamilton Forum talking to Delvecchio and Howe and I was at the Montreal Forum for the four in a row in the seventies. Just saying I have seen a lot – but can anyone draw with a crayon why Washington often inspires such stupidity? It’s all a frustrating waste of time.
I heard about the reaction of fans calling in to the WTOP talk back line. I am kind of surprised they have not filled this blog with comments.
Mr. Leonsis – Thank you still for this great team.
While I’m against violence as a response to a loss, I have to say it’s easy for you to say we as fans should just take it when we’re being challenged by drunk Penguin fans. I witnessed four guys in their 20′s wearing Malkin jersies taunt every Cap fan they passed all the way up the stairs (section 111), down the length of the concourse and then continue outside the Verizon Center. Not once did I see any security personnel who could have stepped in and told them to knock it off. Despite their incredibly obnoxious behavior they got away with nothing more than a few shouts and a couple of bumps. Frankly, I was amazed by the restraint of Caps fans. If that was Philly, we’d be reading about what happened to them in the front page of the local crime section. Again, if you don’t want problems then get your people to be proactive. If visiting fans are getting in the face of your season ticket holders, pull their tickets and throw them out. I have no problem with another team’s fan coming to the VC and cheering for their team. But when they start trying to pick fights, then all bets are off.
Ted, The Caps did get a powerplay in an overtime playoff game.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=230420023
Clearly you have forgotten about this game: http://www.hockeynut.com/0203/playoffs2003/boxscores/tamwas6.html
Check the box score. The Caps were given at PP at the end of the 1st OT.
I agree that it’s absolutely classless for fans to throw stuff at the Pittsburgh players after they celebrate their win. I get upset like the next guy, but you don’t lower yourself and act like a sore loser and throw stuff on the ice – that’s just embarassing.
I will agree that the officiating was good through three periods but the OT officiating was awful!! It is sad when fans that pay as much as we are paying for seats get robbed of seeing the end of a game. The players should end the game not the ref. There is nothing that you can do about this I know, but I had to voice my frustration. I work hard for my money and I decide to invest my money in the NHL they should at least provide a fair game in front of me. If you are going to call it call it the same both ways PLEASE!!
Now lets go to Pittsburgh and bring on a game 7!!! LETS GO CAPS
Classy statement in the notes, Ted. Thank you for speaking out.
As painful as a loss may be tomorrow or on Wednesday, the entire organization and the fans can be proud to have taken another step forward. [Of course having it at the hands of our long-time playoff nemesises makes it a lot more painful.]
It’s an old adage said a million times in a million ways, but as one film fan to another I’ll just quote Batman Begins:
“Why do we fall, sir? So that we might learn to pick ourselves up.”
I have no doubt that the organization you have put together will pick it’s self up – wether it is tomorrow and on Wednesday or next year. You have leaders, coaches, and players who are all prepared to learn from the failures of today and get better tomorrow.
When discussing sports ownership in this city, I always tell those that will listen the role of the owner goes beyond money & merchandising. A professional sports franchise is a business, and like all businesses there is a corporate culture that starts at the top. Ted, as long as you’re that leader, I know that one day soon the names of the Washington Capitals will be engraved on Lord Stanley’s Cup. I only wish my other favorite teams had an owner so passionate, intelligent, and caring.
In order to keep this from sounding like I’m totally brown-nosing you, here’s a fan complaint! PLEASE try to make sure all games are shown on CSN or MASN if you have that power. I’m not going to pay almost double for digital TV just to get Versus!! What ever happened to the days of broadcasting on local stations like channel 20? It’s crazy to think I have to move to Canada to see the Caps on regular TV!
Ted: I think it’s entirely reasonable for Caps fans to be angry at the game – as should the fans of the every other Eastern Conference team – because the Penguins never get a call that goes against them; every call goes their way – in this series and in the Flyers/Penguins series.
I sit five rows from the ice and completely agree with you about fans tossing bottles, etc. on the ice. In addition to the loss, I didn’t need the evening capped with dodging debris. But, Ted, I take extreme issue with you when you say “the officiating was good last night” and then immediately point out that the officials missed two calls against the Pens in OT.
I know you have to be concerned with fines, etc. but why say it was good when it wasn’t? That’s as much of a sell out as anything I’ve seen you write — and your fans deserve better. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything. You just endorsed shoddy officiating, Ted!
Last night’s OT officiating was as unacceptable as fans tossing things on the ice. To this point the Pens have 25 power plays to the Caps’ 15. Your GM is on record saying that the officials aren’t listening to their supervisor, as is your coach and superstar player. So why are you now saying the opposite – the pointing out that your GM, coach, superstar, and fans are right to be upset?
If the league isn’t going to give ALL teams a fair shot and the owners of teams that are ripped off go on record as approving the shoddy work by league employees, fans will eventually stop caring, coming, and paying to see games. And that’s a heck of a way to address the problem of people throwing stuff on the ice after the opportunity to win a game is stolen from them.
You can do better, Ted.
Ted: This team has taken undisciplined penalties all year so it should be no surprise to anyone that it is continuing in the playoffs. Frankly I would be more interested in knowing what consequences were meted out to players that did this in the regular season. Was playing time or power play time taken away? Were players sat out for any games? If not, to expect them to act any differently just because its the playoffs in my humble opinion would be naive.
I was harassed badly on Monday night in Washington. Your unwillingness to make tickets available fairly to all contributes to an atmosphere where Caps thugs, excuse me, “fans” feel entitled to do so. You want things to be better — look in the mirror.
Ted:
Classy post. I agree on all points. I too am hoping the team we all know and love can and does beat the odds. Here’s to hoping to see you and others at Game 7. In the meantime: “Take No Prisioners” -
LETS GO CAPS!!!!
Hey Ted,
Maybe you can get those fans of yours who were handing out pacifiers for Crosby to pass some along to you and your coach. Quit whining about the refs, it’s well past pathetic!
It was a great game. As well as I hate to admit the Pens from top to bottom is a great team. I believe they are slightly better than the Caps as a team. Without question Crosby is no where the player OVI is. Will be looking forward to Mondays game.
What ever happens hope the Caps do not sit still during the off season and make the necessary improvements to bring the Caps over the hump.
Well said. However after I read your blog taoday on the game last night, I came across this article. http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/07/caps-steamed-over-cbc-locker-room-footage/?icid=main|main|dl4|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fnhl.fanhouse.com%2F2009%2F05%2F07%2Fcaps-steamed-over-cbc-locker-room-footage%2F
What are your thoughts?
Don’t drink too much water there, Ted!
‘I was thinking as I walked out of the building last night that in ten years of ownership, nine seasons of play and five playoff series; WE have never been up 5 men to 4 in OT.’
What does that have to do with this series? You have to earn a penalty. They are not given out for free. I understand that you’re viewing the series through ‘Rock the Red’ goggles, but the officiating mishaps occur on both teams…although it may be hard for you to realize. When a team is focusing on the things that are uncontrollable, you realize how mentally weak they are.