Courtesy: Washington Post
About a month ago, I did my first baseball column ever and now I’m stepping out of my NFL comfort zone to talk a little hockey. Yes! Hockey still exists and I’ll always be a fan of it, despite waning interest from the main stream. My interest in the NHL too has also waned a little, you can only take so many work stoppages as a fan. Still I always keep up with my favorite team the Washington Capitals and I’m always hopeful that every year can finally be the time that they hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time in the franchises history. With the Caps clinching a playoff spot with a win over Winnipeg recently, I thought now would be a good time to go over my own personal history of following this team as a way to get extra fired up for the latest quest for the cup.
I’m not an NHL expert by any means, but I have been a fan for over twenty years, so what I’m going to do is just go year to year with the results of that particular season and my memories of them. Let’s go back in the time machine to the 89-90 season. 1.21 gigawatts and GO!
1989-90: (Age 8)
This is where it all began for me, not only with the hockey, but also football and baseball. My father had season tickets to the Capitals in the 70’s when the franchise was created. The tickets were dirt cheap back them and the team was terrible. My mother (not a sports fan) would often go to the games and do crossword puzzles, my poor father most of been so embarrassed. The first game I can remember watching was Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Bruins. My father was very excited because the Caps had never made it that far before. Unfortunately the Caps would lose Game 3 and later on being swept by the Bruins, but from that point on I was all in on the Caps.
1990-91: (Age 9)
My first full season as a Caps fan! Woooooooo! After an upset first round playoff win against the Rangers the Caps would fall to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 5 games. This would merely be the first of many bad memories involving the Pittsburgh Penguins.
1991-92: (Age 10)
For the second straight year its the Penguins in the playoffs. The Caps open up a 3-1 series lead on the defending champs, all is looking good. I think we know where this is going right? The Pens rally back and win the deciding Game 7 in Washington and go on to win the Stanley Cup for the second straight year, unbelievable.
1992-93: (Age 11)
This year the Caps had the best regular season they ever had since I had been watching, so I had high expectations for the playoffs. I should have had lower expectations because the Caps lost in the first round to the New York Islanders in six games. What I mainly remember from this year was Dale Hunters disgusting cheap shot on Pierre Turgeon after he had scored the Game 6 clinching goal. Hunter would be suspended for the first 25 games the following season.
1993-94: (Age 12)
Well goes who it is in the playoffs again? Yeah the Pittsburgh Penguins. Up 3-2 in the series the Caps have a chance to win at home and exercise the Penguin demon…..and they did!!! Without a doubt the greatest moment I had witnessed in my brief history of Capitals fandom. I was convinced after finally conquering the big bad Penguins the Caps were going to go all the way. I was soon brought back to reality as the Caps got smacked down in the following round by the eventual champion New York Rangers.
1994-95: (Age 13)
This was a look out shortened season (48 games) get used to seeing that a few more times in this column. The Caps once again look up with the Penguins in the playoffs. The Caps are up 3-1 in the series. I remember watching Game 5 which went to overtime. My father always said there’s nothing more intense then an overtime playoff hockey game, it can go on forever and end at any second, I vaguely remember the Caps having a few chances to end the series here, but they failed and the Pens staved off elimination. At the time I thought fine we can finish them off at home again like last year. I could have never seen a 7-1 loss coming, I was devastated. I can even remember the next day at school as an asshole Detroit Red Wing fan ripped on me about the game, I had nothing to say. The Caps predictably lost Game 7 in Pittsburgh 3-0 and once again I had to live through the Caps blowing a 3-1 series lead on Pittsburgh. I’m quickly learning being a Caps fan isn’t easy.
1995-96: (Age 14)
This was the year the Caps switched to the new uniforms (The one’s with swooping Eagles). New uniforms same disappointments. The Pittsburgh Penguins once again were my absolute nightmare. After taking a 2-0 series lead with the first two wins coming in Pittsburgh, the Caps would go on to lose four in a row, including a quadruple overtime loss in Game 4. My hatred for the Penguins continues to grow.
1996-97: (Age 15)
No playoffs, first time since I had been watching no freaking playoffs. There’s always next year.
1997-98: (Age 16)
What a year this was, with the emergence of Olaf Kolzig the newest goalie sensation for the Caps. After dispatching Boston and Ottawa in the playoffs the Caps had finally made it back to the Conference Finals to go against the Buffalo Sabres and their imposing goaltender Dominik Hasek. Game 6 in Buffalo had gone to overtime, my heart is pounding out of my chest, just knowing one goal will send my team to the Finals. Holy shit Brian Bellows drives to the net, he puts a shot on goal, juicy rebound just laying there, Joey Juneau bangs it in! Caps win! Caps win! Going to the Finals baby. After the Caps dropped Game 1 to the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings, they jumped out to a nice lead in Game 2, the Wings fought back to to cut the deficit to one goal, but opportunity would knock as an empty net would present itself to the Caps, Esa Tikkinen shot and MISSED he missed the empty net, would have been the game clincher. The Red Wings of course tie the game after and win in overtime and go on for the sweep. I guess this just wasn’t their time, damn.
1998-99: (Age 17)
Coming off an Eastern Conference Championship there was high hopes for this following season, but they missed the playoffs damn damn damn. I need to stop having expectations for this team.
1999-00: (Age 18)
All is going well. Olie Kolzig has won the Vezina Trophy for best goaltender this has got to be the year. Oops there’s the god damn Penguins again, it only took five.
2000-01: (Age 19)
No no no no no no no noooooooooooooooooo! The Penguins again! I gotta be honest people I don’t remember every single NHL season like I can with NFL, so yeah I’ve been using the aid of the internet to fill in some spots that are a little hazy to me. Even I didn’t think the Caps lost to the Penguins this many times. I knew it was a lot but I never thought it was this much. I guess the brain has a way of blocking out tragic sports memories. By the way they did in the Caps in six this year, as if it matters anymore.
2001-02: (Age 20)
Could there possibly be the smallest consolation prize from losing to the same team every fucking year? How about getting their best player? Yes I never thought I’d see the day that one of my main sports tormentors Jaromir Jagr would be playing for my Caps. Mass hysteria! Fire and brimstone! Dogs and Cats living together in harmony! The Caps barely missed the playoffs this year, but I’m psyched for the future with Jagr in hand.
2002-03: (Age 21)
So here we go! Back in the playoffs and no Penguins in sight! Instead it’s the Tampa Bay Lightning. Caps take the first two games in Tampa, we got this shit or so I think. Those damn bastards won the next four games. Are you fucking kidding me? We can’t even beat the fucking Tampa Bay Lightning?
2003-04: (Age 22)
This is where the shit really hits the fan. After a disappointing start the Caps blew up the team by trading Jagr, Bondra, Gonchar, and a few others. I guess things have to get worse before they get better. Is that cliche enough for you people?
2004-05: (Age 23)
The whole season is cancelled due to a lockout. Yes I said that right the whole damn season. Luckily I won’t have to type the word lockout again for the rest of this column. Have I mentioned that I lie sometimes?
2005-06: (Age 24)
Once again no playoffs this year, but this would be the first time we all got to see the great Alexander Ovechkin. Once again the future looks bright for this franchise.
2006-07 (Age 25)
Ovechkin continues to dazzle and another youngster Alexander Semin makes a name for himself as well. Still not enough to translate to a playoff berth.
2007-08: (Age 26)
Finally back in the playoffs after five years, this is what I’ve been waiting for to see what the future (Ovechkin) can do in the playoffs. The Caps were going against another team I was preconditioned to hate the Philadelphia Flyers. The Caps were triumphant in Game 1 coming from behind, I’ll never forget the image of Ovechkin banging in to the boards after scoring the go ahead goal. The Caps lost the next three but battled back to send the series to a deciding Game 7. The game goes to overtime, but unexpectedly a penalty is called on the Caps. Really? penalties are hardly ever called in playoff overtime periods. If only the Caps can kill the penal……shit the Flyers score, season over.
2008-09: (Age 27)
It’s the damn Penguins again! After coming back from from a 3-1 series deficit against the Rangers, the Caps stormed back to take the series and advance to the second round to go against those damn Penguins again. Now it’s Ovechkin vs Crosby. The series goes to the deciding Game 7 in Washington. This is it! This is what I’ve been waiting for………… a 6-2 loss. Motherfucker! That’s six times now if you’ve been keeping count, compared to only one series victory over the Penguins. When will the torture ever stop? Oh and of course the asshole Penguins go on to win the damn Stanley Cup again. Shoot me.
2009-10: (Age 28)
So for the first time in franchise history the Caps win the President Trophy (that means the top team in the regular season). This has got to be the year right? The Caps draw the Montreal Canadians in the first round, they’re tough but the the Caps get the 3-1 series lead, but would you believe it, the #8 seeded Canadians rally back to win the series; what a huge disappointment. This is when I realized home ice advantage in hockey doesn’t mean shit. At least Montreal knocked out Pittsburgh in the following round.
2010-11: (Age 29)
Once again the Caps enter the postseason as the number one seed. They easily dispatch the Rangers in five games. Maybe this #1 seed thing is actually going to work out this year, unless you know, they get swept by the god damn Tampa Bay Lightning in the next round. This is starting to get embarrassing.
2011-12: (Age 30)
The Caps slip in to the playoffs as the #7 seed. I’m excited about this, after falling to the pressure of being the #1 seed the past few years. The Caps are slated against the defending champion Boston Bruins. It’s a hell of a series as each game is decided by one goal, it’s like it was meant to go seven games, with the final game going to overtime. Joel Ward bangs home the game winner! The Caps beat the champs and move on. this underdog thing is the way to go. Next up is the #1 seed New York Rangers. With the series tied 2-2 the Caps look to have Game 5 wrapped up with a one goal lead late. The Rangers pull their goalie to get an extra skater out there and Joel Ward, the hero from the last series, takes an incredibly stupid double minor high sticking penalty with 21 seconds left. Oh well just kill off the remaining time and all is forgotten. The Rangers rush the net furiously, just one clear and it’s over, but with 7.6 seconds Brad Richards bangs in a rebound to tie the game, how deflating. With Ward still serving the double minor, the Rangers end the game quick in overtime. The Caps win Game 6, but are outdone in Game 7, so close yet again.
2013: (Age 31)
Yeah only 2013, that’s not a typo. Yet another lockout shortened season (48 games) How does the idiot Commissioner Gary Bettman still have his job? That’s another topic for another day, believe me. Anyway the Caps started off the season really rough, but stormed back big time to win the crappy Southeast division again. They are the #3 and have a rematch from last year against the Rangers. This is where I’m going to have to stop though because I’ve caught up to the present. The history is now waiting to be written. I can only hope that this year can different. I will offer no prediction, only stupid blind optimism. Let’s go Caps!
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