C-A-P-S! CAPS, CAPS, CAPS!
Stepping into the Verizon Center last night, I noticed something I had not seen all year, in fact, in my lifetime. I was completely surrounded by a sea of red (a few Flyers fans present of course), but more importantly was a sold out crowd just as pumped up for the hockey game as the players. I’ve been to pivotal Raven’s games, attended boisterous Terps/Duke rivalry games, watched Hideo Nomo no-hit the O’s, but the opening game of the Caps 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs verses the Philadelphia Flyers was the most electric game I’ve been a part of to this day. In fact, I had just come from work and felt compelled to buy an overpriced $30 RED t-shirt just to fit in. I was rockin’ the red!
The Caps opened up the game with a high intensity fueled by adrenaline, and while they didn’t throw up a lot of goals, they were mentally prepared and executing. In the fourth minute, the most unlikely forward (in my opinion), Donald Brashear scored the game’s first goal. Not only that, it was an impressive goal. I’m so used to watching him destroy people, I tend to be shocked when he actually contributes to the scoreboard. The Flyers were resilient and bounced back with a goal 5 minutes later. The remainder of the period had both teams trying to get into rhythm and set the pace of the game. (1 – 1)
The second period began with ANOTHER goal by the Caps checking line as Dave Steckel slipped one past Martin Biron. This proved to be the only positive highlight of the period for the Caps as the Flyers made it rain on goalie Cristobal Huet. Just when they were setting into the driver seat, as they were up 1 and on the power play, the Flyers’ defense stepped up, and center Daniel Briere ties the game up at 2 with a quick goal straight out of the penalty box. Prospal and Briere added a pair of goals shortly after to give the Flyers a 4-2 lead. At the end of the period, I thought the best the Caps could do was force OT as 3 goals in one period just seemed unrealistic, especially with the way the Flyers were playing, but even that seemed unlikely. ( 2 – 4)
I wish I could have been in the Caps locker room during the 2nd Intermission; I have no idea what Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said to his players, but they came out firing in the 3rd period. Mike Green flipped on a switch and took over the first seven minutes of the period, scoring a pair of goals. I guess the playoff mo-hawk worked! At that point, I vowed to buy a $200 Mike Green jersey if he nodded a hat-trick (which he almost did, which also terrified me). The crowd was back into the game, and with nearly 14 minutes to go, the Caps had tied the game, and actually had a shot to win it!!!! I would bet 100% of anyone who knows anything about hockey could answer this question with the same answer: Of all the players on the ice, who would be the one to step up individually and power his team to a win. That’s right, Alex “MVP” Ovechkin. It’s weird to not mention his name until the 3rd period, but he always finds a way to contribute to the team. In a completely individual effort, OV intercepts an errant Flyers pass, forces a turnover from defensemen Lasse Kukkonen, and scores a brilliant goal against the shocked Biron. The Verizon Center erupted in celebration and the resilient Caps were 4+ minutes from pulling off an amazing comeback. The stunned Flyers couldn’t muster up the energy to fight the momentum exuded by the Caps and Caps’ fans, sending them to a moral defeat and one game down in the series. (5-4)
I know it’s still early, but I saw something in the Caps that you see in championship teams; mental toughness. Giving up 3 goals in the 2nd period, and being down 2 goals at the start of the final period, they could have packed it in. Instead, they saw an opportunity to fight back and took the first game in the seven game series. Their stars stepped up when they had to. Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin, and Huet came up huge in the third.
I left the venue and almost immediately passed out on the ride home, I just hope the Caps can play with this energy throughout the playoffs, as it took a toll on me in one game. If they can, Barry Melrose, your Sharks better watch out.
C-A-P-S CAPS CAPS CAPS!!!
