I haven't seen Christian in a week, I have his $2, but I think he's waiting to ambush me (...I gotta watch my back!)
However, it was during that April 27th game that Zeb and I traded texts and twits and emails over how horribly Zeb felt the zebras called the game. From my perspective, I thought they were all good calls--Zeb felt they were inconsistent and untimely. I didn't (couldn't, wouldn't) see his point then, but I think I do now.
In his summary blog of the first round of the playoffs, Brent wrote: "The Capitals were robbed by the officials with the Rangers having a two-to-one ratio of Power Plays. Even though the Rangers PP looked horrible, having to kill off a penalty can cause problems with your own team. Caps fans have every reason to be upset at the NHL and it's officials."
I couldn't agree more. I'm not going to grouse, bitch, moan, groan, or complain--I want to believe the refs are human and make mistakes. But I readily admit that there is something to be said for consistency in officiating. In the picture to the left, you clearly see nine (9) Rangers on the ice, and on this very play, the refs did call a penalty for too many men on the ice---ON WASHINGTON!!!! No, I'm not kidding and this is not hyperbole. They gave the Rangers the PP and the Caps went on to lose Game 3 and the rest is, well, history.As for the Caps' season, I'm not bitter, just bitterly disappointed that the Caps do, in fact, seem to have "choke-itis." But I am nonetheless proud of my team and I remain a loyal homer. The Washington Capitals are a 39-year old NHL expansion team; they've made the playoffs 24 of those 39 seasons (61%). Eight times they won the division. Ten times they advanced past the first round; only twice did they make it into the semi's, and just once to the Stanley Cup where they were trounced by the high flying Red Wings.
Oh well...I guess it's time, once again, to sing the Washington, DC, Unified Sports Team Fight Song:
(...ahem...)
"I know all there is to know about the crying game; I've had my share of the crying game..."
4 comments:
I was hoping the Caps would make it into the second round. Who knew Ovi was playing on a broken foot the last two games?
LOL at the fight song at the end! At least you don't have to wonder about which ex-Raider is going to get arrested this week.
Take heart, I think the Caps are getting closer. They need more depth and a better D because if you rely too much on the PP (which they have the best) and you get screwed like they did against (long A for the Canadians reading), then you lose too often. Great writing as always, G.
Yeah, me, too. I truly wanted BK's prediction to come true, but being the "stuperstitious" guy that I am, the moment I read that prediction, I couldn't make a comment. Then when MASN and the NHL network also started predicting a shining run for the Caps, I knew right then that we were doomed. When game 7 came on, the announcers immediately said how NY had never beaten us in a game 7 at home (what a pointless stat to jinx us on), I knew we were going to lose. Listening to the Bruins game 7, when they were down 3-1, at least I thought I'd get to keep my $2, but the gods saw to that, too.
As for Ovie's broken ankle--I didn't know and now I'm just as pissed at him as I was at RGIII. Damnit, if you want the team to win--sit your broken asses down and let someone else do the job!
Superstars....sheesh!
Actually, I thought the Caps screwed themselves on their shitty passing and puck handling. Throughout the season, they were wicked with the sticks and the passing--that's why the PP worked so well, but in the playoffs, they were passing right into line changes, missing the cutoff man by miles, and simply leaving the puck laying on the ice. Damn, in Game 4, Lundquist dropped his stick 5 times (FIVE) in a 10 minute span, and on two of those occasions he was stickless for up to 10 seconds and we couldn't get the put on net because we let the Mangers deek it away from us.
Oh well...next year!
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