red states rule
04-06-2008, 06:40 AM
Nobidy thought the Caps would make it, but they have been playing well at the right time
They are in, now lets see if they can keep it up
Capitals headed to playoffs on late-season resurgence
By Ryan O'Halloran
A year ago, the Washington Capitals were strangers in their own building, limping to another nonplayoff season. For the finale, Verizon Center became Buffalo South. The Sabres were in town, and their fans made up more than half of the 18,277 in attendance.
The Capitals' fans were drowned out, and superstar Alex Ovechkin was booed every time he touched the puck.
It was embarrassing but expected. When winning teams like Buffalo and Pittsburgh visited, they had the advantage.
Fast-forward to last night in Chinatown. Again, the announced crowd was 18,277. Everything else was different — most importantly, the result.
The formerly sad-sack Capitals, a nonissue on the D.C. sports scene for five years through the NHL lockout and then a painful rebuilding process, are returning to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080406/SPORTS04/634000240/1001
They are in, now lets see if they can keep it up
Capitals headed to playoffs on late-season resurgence
By Ryan O'Halloran
A year ago, the Washington Capitals were strangers in their own building, limping to another nonplayoff season. For the finale, Verizon Center became Buffalo South. The Sabres were in town, and their fans made up more than half of the 18,277 in attendance.
The Capitals' fans were drowned out, and superstar Alex Ovechkin was booed every time he touched the puck.
It was embarrassing but expected. When winning teams like Buffalo and Pittsburgh visited, they had the advantage.
Fast-forward to last night in Chinatown. Again, the announced crowd was 18,277. Everything else was different — most importantly, the result.
The formerly sad-sack Capitals, a nonissue on the D.C. sports scene for five years through the NHL lockout and then a painful rebuilding process, are returning to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080406/SPORTS04/634000240/1001