Sunday, December 16, 2007

Gameday Preview: Caps vs Wings

Who: Washington Capitals vs. Detroit Red Wings
Where: Joe Louis Arena
When: Monday, December 17, 7 pm

Broadcast Info: Versus, RDS, NHL Network (Canada); 3WT Radio; AM 1270

Media Notes:
Caps' Site
NHL.com
Washington Times
Detroit Free Press

Taking on the top team in the league is a daunting task for any club - when you're still struggling to climb into the pack and you still suffer from occasional lapses, it's even moreso.

One thing the Caps have proven this year, though, is that they have the ability to hang in there with the league's elite teams despite being so-called "lowly". When you're in last place in the conference obviously you are considered the underdog in every game, but so many times this season the Caps have come out and dispelled the myth that the record defines the team.

Their work is cut out for them this time - sure, they've gone into Scotiabank Place and shocked the previously white hot Senators. They've traveled to Philly and taken one away from the Flyers in overtime. But there are few arenas tougher than the Joe to play in and the Caps need to come out with the work ethic and solid play they've suddenly adopted.

The Wings aren't an invincible team...they just play one on TV.

2 Minutes with...Chris Chelios and Dominik Hasek

CC: First of all, thanks for meeting with me today, guys.
ChCh: Such a late hour, though?
CC: Er...it's 3:30.
ChCh: It's already 3:30?? Hurry up, young lady, we're late for dinner! Right, Dom?
DH: Eh?
ChCh: [shouting] I said we're late for dinner!
DH: ...eh?
ChCh: Never mind.
CC: Right...right, um, so Chris, how has the NHL changed since you first started?
ChCh: These kids nowadays, they don't know what hockey is anymore.
CC: I'm sorry?
ChCh: Damn spoiled kids. Back when I was a kid we had to use stale pieces of bread for padding and we had to run from city to city with our equipment on our back. Through the snow, too, with only used tissues on our feet to protect against the cold.
CC: That doesn't sound quite...
ChCh: Back then we were paid in pieces of string - and we were thankful, too.
CC: Um...okay. Dominik?
DH: Eh?
CC: Well put, sir. Chris, what do you think is the biggest challenge facing-
DH: BANANAS!
CC: What??
DH: ...eh?
ChCh: I remember one game where I scored 363 goals in one period. 'Course, the number three had been outlawed in an attempt to ration electricity, but the president gave me a pardon because -
DH: MONKEY SPIT!
CC: Wow. Uh, hey, do I hear a bingo game going on next door?
ChCh: Bingo?? WHERE? Come on, Dom!
[Chelios leaps to his feet, grabs Hasek's wheelchair and rushes out of the room...a process that takes him about an hour.]

6 comments:

Elly said...

Ahh, this makes me happy.

Steph said...

God CC, here I thought you were a mature, intelligent Caps fan just trying to escape the hoards of offensive Caps bloggers AND THEN YOU CALL CHELIOS OLD?

That's it, we're SO over.

Anonymous said...

CC, this is so great! I, for one, cannot get enough of the Chris Chelios is old jokes. I mean, come on! If we can't joke about that, what can we joke about? :)

Anonymous said...

what was that, do i hear someone making old people jokes about Chris Chelios? well i guess if you don't like old people you wouldn't be interested in hearing about Gordie Howe being at the Wings game tonite. oh, yeah, that's right. i'm in Hockeytown. better play nice if you want any recaps on Ovie/Datsyuk, Backs/Zetterberg meetings.

but feel free to make fun of the Dominator at will. with any luck, i will get to see him lose his mind in person later.

Steph said...

Don't worry, I told her I wasn't giving her pictures from the game unless she played nice.

(How much do I hope Dom does some crazy divetackle move again? It HAS to happen in person ONCE, right?)

CapsChick said...

Elly: Glad I could help :)

Steph: If you thought that than clearly you know NOTHING about Caps fans! Geez.

Pookie: Can anyone really get enough of them? I mean, the man literally put the puck in HIS OWN NET the other night. Am I alone in thinking he just got disoriented with all the bright lights and loud noises? (And I could call Detroit a hole but Steph might get mad at me, so we're stuck with old Cheli jokes :P)

George: Will Gordie Howe be strapping on the skates and actually playing for the Wings? Because he might lower the average age, come to think of it...;) And I DO want recaps!! Gah, so many amazing players on the ice in one place tonight, I'm so jealous of those of you who get to go.

Steph(again): Is it bad that I'm hoping more for a repeat performance of the famous blocker glove toss from the '98 playoffs, Sabres vs Caps? (Olie's done that divetackle thing too, by the way...so awesome.)