The Weekly Feed: Experimentation Edition
Former Blade Staffers Launch 'DC Agenda'
D.C. Insurance Dept. Denies Birth Control Coverage Meddling
Controversy Over Rhee Now to Include Sex, Congress
Report: CCDC Split From UDC Is "Critical To Success"
Going into the Caps' opening round playoff series with the Rangers, hockey writers across the country said the key matchup would be Sean Avery on Alex Ovechkin. The Rangers' Avery has made a name for himself as one of the most annoying people in hockey, if not in all of sports. The Capitals were thought overmatched, but the fans, like a seventh man with a vile temper, came through.
Caps fans allegedly spit on Rangers coach John Tortorrella while shouting some difficult questions about the personal lives of his players, prompting the coach to throw a water bottle into the stands. While Tortorella served his suspension, the Capitals achieved a 3-3 tie in a series that looked out of reach when the Rangers led 3-1 and had beaten both Caps goalies. Meanwhile, Sean Avery has taken so many dumb penalties trying to start fights that his coaches have made him a healthy scratch. This is a great achievement for all the Capitals who didn't retaliate.
While most hockey players need to actually take the ice to make a difference in a game, Avery got some of the year's biggest hockey headlines with his indefinite suspension from the Dallas Stars for misogynistic public comments. Avery's ex-girlfriend, Elisha Cuthbert, dates Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf. Avery convened an impromptu pregame news conference to tell the Calgary media how proud he felt to have dated the actress first. The Stars gave him to the Rangers for nothing, and agreed to pay half of his remaining salary under the NHL's waiver rule.
Last year, when the Caps made their first appearance in the playoffs since 2003, the team was still building an identity and a fan base. They released a fairly neutral advertising slogan, "Rock the Red," using popular slang to ask fans to wear their jerseys. The Rangers, meanwhile, already had an identity as a team that could upset superstars and win playoff series through the antics of Sean Avery. Avery helped the Rangers beat the Devils by waving his stick in the face of superstar goalie Martin Brodeur until the latter was too distracted to stop an easy shot. Brodeur famously would not shake Avery's hand at the end of the series. Of course, the two already had a little bit of history, but never before had a new rule been made to keep the ground even between the two of them.
Caps fans like those shown above had a lot of ground to make up. No current Capitals player is famous for upsetting opponents. None of the Capitals is famous for cheating, teasing, taunting or saying mean things to change the course of a hockey game. No one since the great Dale Hunter has played that role on this team. We had thought that the current Caps could earn a reputation like that of the Detroit Red Wings for playing upstanding, gentlemanly hockey and winning without needing to insult or attack their opponents. Instead, something much more interesting is happening. Washington hockey fans, previously an unknown quantity outside of Landover, have proven more effective at upsetting opponents than Sean Avery.
If you think you have what it takes to be a part of this new civic image, come cheer the Caps over the Rangers at Verizon Center tomorrow night. Good luck finding tickets, though.
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If Sean Avery had any real value as a player he would still be on the Detroit Red Wings.
From the looks of StubHub and eBay. It'll take about $125+ to scalp your way into the Phone Booth tomorrow night. And that's for absolute nosebleeds.
From the looks of StubHub and eBay. It'll take about $125+ to scalp your way into the Phone Booth tomorrow night. And that's for absolute nosebleeds.
Sorry for the double post. Sorry for the double post.
Brashear has been suspended 6 games by the league. 1 game for his warm-up love tap, and 5 for his decimating open-ice hit.
Any DCists got a ticket they want to part with? I'll trade you a day at the shotgun range.
Oh Bettman, you are more indecisive than the DC City Council when it is trying to decide whether or not to bend over for the Lerners.
You say you're going to go after high hits, then you don't, then when you want to hit a player with a higher suspension than warranted you use the high hit as an excuse.
The Caps have been good at resisting Avery and the crap the Rags are throwing out there, so I don't see the loss of our only real agitator as a huge issue. However, the way the series has gone and as obviously desperate as New York "Mommy he bite me!" Rangers have become, I think it's gonna be an ugly game.
Also- I'm pretty much sure the Avery/Ovie match up was never the most anticipated. Ovie has his own little mind games and will step up to defend a team mate, but you don't see him lashing out in frustration like Cindy Crosby. The consensus match up to watch was always thought to be Ovie/Lundqvist or really Caps Scorers/Lunqvist. Had he stayed on his game he would have shut the series down already.
Oh, and I have tickets :)
It's gonna be out of control, bring your tetanus booster!
Has the spitting on Tortorella been confirmed? Because at first he said he had a beer poured on him, but then he changed his story to insults being yelled once the video of the incident came out. Also, this article doesn't mention him brandishing a hockey stick and trying to hit the Caps fans with it - great leadership there, coach.
Oh, and if anybody needs a spare kidney or part of my liver, I will gladly trade either for a ticket to tomorrow night's game. They are a bit used and worse for wear, but they've still got some life left in them.
There is no way that Brashear should be suspended for 6 games. I Could see maybe two, one for the pre-game incident and one for the late hit, but 5 games for the hit is just insane. The guy didn't have the puck that long ago, and Dons hit wasn't even that illegal. He caught the dude with his head down and put his shoulder into him. One game suspension at the most. the NHL f'ed this one up. It'll be good to see Clarkie back in though. Gabby wouldn't put Nylander in (or at least i hope he won't)
Anyone have a sub c-note ticket they want to part with?