Whenever you lose a series like the Capitals did, it always makes the entire fan base wonder why one would put yourself through this every spring. From the perspective of being a Caps fan for about the last 40 years, I wonder why I do it to myself.
In the end – it’s great drama, it’s great theater, it’s an enthralling trip through one’s psyche, through the dynamic of team sports, it is also the bonding of having something in common with everybody in your city (the DMV).
Other than the Maryland Terrapins, following the Caps has become my second love. Even more than the Redskins, more than the Orioles, more than the Wizards, the Caps have captured my imagination.
The speed of the game, the enthusiastic crowds at Verizon Center wearing the red sweaters of the Washington Capitals have become a staple of my sports world.
I don’t really know the roots of why I love it so much, but I can tell you that I do. The past month of playoff hockey has been tremendous and yes the team looks like its getting better. Getting better only takes you so far – you still have to win the games.
I’ve wondered aloud and I’ve wondered with my children if the Caps will win the Stanley Cup in my lifetime. I feel like we’ve had many chances over the past 30 seasons or so and it just did not happen.
With the new crop of super star level players with Kuznetsov and Burakovsky up front, with Braden Holtby in goal with Carlson and Alzner on defense you can see that the younger building blocks for Stanley Cup level team are there. For Ovi, Backstrom, Brouwer and a few others, the veteran leadership is there. What will it take to get over the hump?
The question to me has not been one of talent but of heart. It’s not necessarily the style but is there enough grit to get the job done. And unfortunately the jury is still out on those concerns.
For the one season under Barry Trotz as coach, one can see that those intangibles seem to be building steam. As that process takes place, we once again are in the spring wondering what could have been for this year’s team.
One goal away in game 5, in fact 100 seconds away from moving on to the Eastern finals. It was not to be. So for this spring it’s goodbye for now and here’s to hope that the fall of 2015 and spring of 2016 brings the Stanley Cup to the nation’s capital.