If this is the Caps' idea of a joke...we're not amused.
If this is there way of making sure we don't get overexcited too quickly...I think I can speak for everyone when I say they needn't bother.
If this is just a tired team playing a team that has recently gotten hot, which I sincerely hope it is, then they get a brief reprieve before I climb back out on my ledge.
Nothing was going right for the Caps tonight. (The good news is it was nationally televised, so a lot of people got to see the Caps absolutely collapse...) There were far too many turnovers and for a while it seemed like every turnover resulted in a goal. Sloppy plays, missed passes, bouncing pucks at the blue line - all of them resulted in a rush the other way, odd man or otherwise. Olie made a few spectacular saves just to keep this game close, but the Caps were never really in it and seemed disinterested at best.
The return of Semin and Eminger was less than exhilerating, as Eminger finished -2 on the night (although he did pick up an assist) and Semin had two turnovers that seemed like five or six and was also -2. Ovechkin was flying but was also guilty of a few blatant turnovers, as was Nylander, Kozlov, Erskine, etc., etc., etc... In all honesty the only player who looked like he was putting in a consistent effort was Backstrom, whose 19:25 of ice time was second only to Ovechkin among forwards.
Basically the game looked very similar to the pre-Boudreau era Caps. They seemed unable to get any sort of consistent forecheck going. The power play looked shaky. They were trying to be too fancy. They would come out flying but mistakes at one end would end up in the back of the net at the other. And none of the shots they actually took went in - credit Ryan Miller for continuing to backstop a team that frankly, despite their four game winning streak, was not all that impressive. It wasn't what the Sabres did tonight...it was what the Caps didn't do.
A quick aside - I was embarrassed to be a Caps fan tonight. The building was maybe half full, and many of those seat-fillers for the evening were clad in the Slug. It's simply amazing how this city continues to be unable to provide a decent fan base for our team, losing record or not. As we were leaving my sister turned to me and said "I'm tired of being the away team."
Me too.
Monday, November 26, 2007
And We're Back to This...
Gameday Preview: Caps vs Sabres
Who: Washington Capitals vs. Buffalo Sabres
Where: Verizon Center
When: Monday, November 26, 7:00 pm
Broadcast Info: Versus, NHL Network (Canada); 3WT Radio; WGR550
Media Notes:
Caps' Website
NHL.com
Washington Post
Washington Times
The Caps have a chance tonight to prove they have in fact turned a corner when they take on the visiting Sabres, a team that has also experienced a recent resurgence. Like the Caps, the Sabres have performed well below offseason expectations and are only four points ahead of the Caps in the standings. While our boys have two straight wins under their belt, the Sabres are flying high with four straight over division rivals Ottawa and Montreal.
The last time these two teams met, the Caps blew a first period lead, allowing four straight goals in the second period en route to a 7-3 victory. Too many penalties, too many shots on goal, and too many turnovers gave the Caps just their second loss of the season (remember being over .500?). The Caps will look to use their revitalized power play and their more aggressive attack in all situations to make sure that doesn't happen again.
Two straight wins are nice and the return of offense is also great. The Caps have jumped out to three goal leads in both games, though, and almost given the game right back before finally finishing off their opponent. It would be nice to see them take a lead and hang on to it all the way through - shutouts, while always appreciated, aren't necessary. Just keeping a comfortable cushion would be great.
Tonight could also mark the return (for the third time...or was it the fourth?) of sniper Alexander Semin, who has been listed day to day and missed the last two games after tweaking his ankle yet again in practice last week. If Boudreau can find a spot for him that continues the offensive magic and power play dominance the Caps have displayed in their last two wins, this game has the potential to be explosive.
Dear fellow residents of DC, loyal supporters of the Washington Capitals and proud wearers of the red, white and blue:
As you all are aware, there are certain games that tend to bring out a fair number of the opposition's fans. We know them, we love them, we circle them on our calendars: among them are Pittsburgh games, Rangers games, and yes, visits from the Buffalo Sabres. These games are always extra boisterous and fun because there is that constant clash in the stands that takes it to another level. It's wonderful that these teams have such passionate, vocal fanbases and we welcome them to spend their hard-earned money on our team anytime.
As I'm sure you are also aware, these fans have a tendency to vocalize their support for their team in the form of chants - in this case, the somewhat head-scratching "Let's Go Buffalo" chant seems to be pretty popular. And again, that's great. Cheering for your own team regardless of where they may be playing is part of sports and a sign of true fandom.
The trouble starts when the chant becomes the loudest sound in the arena, the clarion call for all opposition fans to join in and have their cheer echo through our building. And the natural instinct by the hometown crowd is to boo in an attempt to cover it up.
Caps fans...please do not boo.
I've never understood this phenomenon. The sound of booing is an ugly sound and should be reserved for only the ugliest of situations (i.e., Jaromir Jagr touching the puck). I get that we want to drown out the sound of enemy chants and believe me, I'm all for it. But why boo?
Instead of voicing our displeasure with the opponent's fans, we should use our voices to support our own team. Nothing is more effective for drowning out the other team than starting up a cheer for our valiant boys that far outweighs theirs. A little "Let's Go Caps" goes a long way. The old school "Let's Go Capitals" would also suffice. Heck, even a Canadian-inspired "Go Caps Go" would work.
And you don't have to wait for the Horn Guy or Goat to get the cheer going - start your own. Be brave, stand up, and lead your section in the most beautiful sound there is. The team probably does not know why you're booing but they recognize the cheers of their faithful fans and you can bet it lifts them up.
On opening night the building was bouncing with energy; the chants were loud, proud, and constant. Olie even remarked that it sounded like what playoff games used to sound like - so they can hear us, folks, and they feed off the energy. Let's try and bring that energy every night, positive energy, starting with tonight's thrilling showdown.
Sincerely,
CapsChick
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Give Peace a Scoring Chance
We all know that hockey fans are extremely passionate, devoted people. Those of us who place hockey above all other sports in our hearts and minds are arguably among the most loyal fans of any league in the country. No matter what the team affiliation, there is something that bonds all of us together in a sort of secret club that only we have entrance to - we have our own language, our own heroes and villains, our own dress code and our own holy grail.
Because of our membership in this secret club one would think that we all are able to somehow coexist peacefully - but as so many of us have seen before and as a recent piece in the NY Post's NHL blog points out, this is increasingly not the case.
Says the author,There is a profound lack of respect and decorum pervading areas far beyond arenas and blogs. The lack of intelligent discourse between fans of rival teams is disheartening. It underscores the devolution of interpersonal communication, which has declined to the point where monosyllabic epithets are the highest - or at least most preferred - form of expression.
It's one of those things that you read and just slowly nod your head because you know - you've seen - that this is true.
Ask any member of the Caps faithful who the worst fans in the league are and you can bet without even a second thought they will say one of four teams: Penguins, Flyers, Sabres or Rangers. There is a level of vitriol towards these groups that is unmatched for any other team in the NHL, and it's not just because of historic rivalries between their teams and ours. It's there because we have been subjected to too many years of invading hordes who quickly become the worst kind of fan, and it only seems to happen with those four teams.
There's something very wrong when fistfights are breaking out in the stands and trash-talking dissolves into personal attacks - that's not sports. That's not fun. That's being obnoxious for no other reason than to be obnoxious, and frankly I'm tired of it.
For that matter, true fans of each of these teams should also be tired of it. I know that the majority of fans who support Pittsburgh or Buffalo, Philly or New York are actually intelligent, sane people. They truly know and love the game of hockey and are capable of carrying on a civil conversation with someone who maybe disagrees with them. I've seen it with my own eyes. I've sat next to them at games. I've read their blogs. They really do exist.
Yet night after night a small but vocal minority is out there giving these true fans a bad name.
When you come into another team's building it's perfectly fine to stand up and cheer for your own team, to support them by wearing their colors, to celebrate when they score. But to buy a ticket with the soul purpose of getting as drunk and belligerent as possible, to come into our arena and boo our star, to rile up the locals and engage in violent activity over something as trivial as a game - that's not being a fan. That's being classless, tasteless and over the top, the exact opposite of what being a fan is supposed to be all about.
And so I'm putting out two general pleas, with the knowledge and understanding that they will in all likelihood fall on deaf ears.
The first is to the Caps fans who are traveling to Buffalo this weekend, either with the fan club or on their own. Remember that you are there not only to support our team but also to serve as an ambassador for Caps fans everywhere. Cheer for the Caps. Do it loudly and often. Let those of us at home hear you on TV, because our boys deserve nothing less. But more importantly, don't antagonize the locals or rise to the bait of a "fan" who calls you out. You are there to root the Caps on to victory - everything else is beneath you.
The second and more likely to be ignored plea is one to Penguins fans planning on coming out to the game on October 20th. I know you'll be there en masse as always and I'm happy to welcome you into my building. (Well, okay, maybe happy isn't the word but I won't block the door or anything...)
You have a good young team stacked with potential and promise; what you've accomplished and what you've built over the past few years is inspiring and you have every right to be proud of your club. Don't be a detriment to what you have there. Don't let your passion for the team be overthrown by the mob mentality that seems to permeate your numbers when you come to town. I can handle good-natured ribbing or a little trash-talking, but couch it in a smile that tells me you're a hockey fan, not a jackass.
We're all there for the same reason - to see our team come out victorious. So show us that you can be what you seem to be when in your own arena; passionate, loud, fun-loving fans. The Caps-Pens rivalry is going to be exciting for years to come and there's no reason why we can't enjoy that in a friendly, peaceful, blood-free environment.
I know you have it in you.
