True, I guess its just a lot of pent-up frustration about the Expos.

Speaking of the Expos, that would be an interesting subplot to a Caps-Habs series.

I'm nauseous with nerves.

But at least the future looks bright for the Caps regardless and its not like they could win the Cup this year.

If I were a Sharks fan, however, I'd be shitting myself. If they lose, they're going to clean house and have nice big blamestorm.

I don't know if it's actually worth watching the OT. The stress and nerves of it may be worse than the joy of potentially winning. Damn. . .of course I'll watch it, but I kind of hate this.

I have to watch, although I don't want to.

Christ, Poti, what are you thinking?

WOOOOOOOOOOO!!! That was surprising, as the Caps had been killing that penalty off very well. Terrible penalty by the Caps; such an obvious trip right after a non-call on another trip was always going to get a call.

Condolences Reed and SocScrim, great series and the Caps are young and getting better, so there's much good to take from this.

Devastating.

I knew it was over as soon as that power play started. The Flyers were getting tons of good looks. It was inevitable.

That's as close as it could have been, I guess.

Further evidence that the future looks bright for the Caps: 18 of their 20 goals in the series were scored by players under 24 years old.

Reed, now what were you saying about obnoxious Philadelphia fans?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFHne2NAgyI

The more fans a team has, the likelihood that some of them will act like idiots increases. Now that the Caps have become popular, Reed can look forward to an increase in general douchebaggery amongst them. But at least they don't talk funny!

More importantly, that was a hell of an accurate beer-bottle toss. The Nats ought to sign the guy.

Eh, the bottles are plastic.

Caps fans do talk funny. A lot of them are from Balmore, hon.

The guy on Washington Post Live is commenting on the shameful behavior of Caps fans at the arena last night after the game - booing, throwing stuff, etc. I guess they were just bitter about the officiating, but that's no excuse.

Ovechkin saluted the fans, which was class. Now I hear he might be playing for Russia in the WC's, also class.

Otherwise, I doubt there's ever been a team or its media to lose in the first round and feel so positive about it.

The post-season begins. They signed coach Boudreau to a long-term deal. That's smart, but they still don't have a goalie. Huet and Kolzig are both free agents and the Post beat-writer thinks Huet may prefer to go to Ottawa.

I don't know if they'll offer Federov enough to stay, but I think he likes playing for the Caps.

Cook and Laich are RFAs, I think and now worth more than they were six weeks ago.

They've got a lot of picks in this year's draft, although that's probably not going to make a short-term difference.

QUOTE:
Otherwise, I doubt there's ever been a team or its media to lose in the first round and feel so positive about it.

The positivity is well-deserved. They have a world-class player, a bright future, and, perhaps most importantly, have jump started a long-dormant excitement for hockey in DC.

Granted, I'm happy for them now, but if the fans/local media start treating them like they usually treat the 'Skins, I'll have to start hating them soon.

What do you mean "usually treat the Skins?" Talk about them too much? Kiss their ass too much? Accept their offensive nickname?

The local media seems to be slowly turning on the Skins. Al Koken, for example, was just on tv (I'm at home, ill) ripping their attempt to trade away their picks for Johnson and Boldin and pointing out that good teams, like the Giants and Colts don't trade away picks like that.

It seems like younger members of the media have turned on them faster. George Michael continues to kiss Dan Snyder's ass, but the Sports Junkies, for example, are all pretty bitter about the state of the team.

I hope this surge in Caps interest sticks better than the surge they got when they went to the finals with Bondra, et al. I seems more significant, at least - better TV ratings, for example and the general popularity of the Verizon Center and environs has grown a lot in ten years.

QUOTE:
What do you mean "usually treat the Skins?"

A loud and blind homerism that raises mediocrities (or has-beens) to deities, and blames any slip on bad luck/some outside force. Admittedly, this quality of the DC-sports press has diminished under Snyder's ownership (but only, really, in the last few years).

Perhaps I'm just used to the Philly media, which spends all its time saying that