Caps Briefing: Undefeated

Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin aren't just players anymore. They have become figures of faith, avatars to represent the dreams of everyone in the community, messenger angels to bring prayers of the nation's capital up to the heavens. With one joined, roaring voice last night, the fans cried forth "Yea."

For their part, Semin and Ovechkin are energized and ready to tear through the regular season. Ovechkin was shadowed throughout most of the night by Mike Komisarek, the Leafs' major free-agent acquisition, previously with Montreal; but Ovechkin hit him more than vice versa. Semin also provided a physical presence, forcing turnovers in both ends and finishing his checks. That's simply a part of his commitment to winning and being the best. When I asked him if he felt he was hitting more than last year, he appeared to ask friend and interpreter Dimitry Chesnokov whether there was some trick to the question before answering with a simple, "how else?"

It's this humble, hard-working dedication to doing all the little things to win that helped the Capitals finally build a religious following, complete with its own liturgy. Gone are the days when the big television in the middle of the arena pessimistically suggests that fans may wish to "Make some NOISE." Caps fans have learned how to spell "C-A-P-S" on their own, and now do so at regular intervals without teleprompting.

Where the in-game presentation did lead to an organized cheer, it was in an organic way, built through tradition last spring and held in the cherished memory of each fan throughout the summer. Throughout a two-minute montage of movie quotes the team showed during a stoppage with five minutes left of the game, the fans cheered over everything, so that no quote was audible, whether from comedies or sports movies, until Tom Green's character from Road Trip tells his friend's pet snake to "unleash the fury." The clapping stopped before that quote as eighteen thousand fans drew in their breath. Then one couldn't hear Tom Green's voice because eighteen thousand fans yelled the line together, in time and at the top of their lungs.

Appropriately, the fury was unleashed. With goals from Brooks Laich and new additions Mike Knuble and Brendan Morrison, the Caps balanced their attack behind their two superstars, who accounted for the other three tallies. Together, they pasted a win over the Toronto Maple Leafs that was much more lopsided than the 6-4 score indicated. As the year goes on, Simeon Varlamov will have to work on his rebound control and the defense will have to work on staying focused with leads, but the Caps, on paper, should be able to beat an average team like Toronto by two goals.

What's different about the team this year, though, doesn't show on paper. Elisabeth pointed out in our season preview that this team has now been together without major changes for years. I was disinclined to think that made for likely Stanley Cup contenders. The difference isn't about twenty guys knowing each other, though. The difference this year is about eighteen thousand fans believing in every player in a red jersey, and those players understanding that they are part of something larger than themselves. I have seen what she meant. I have felt it. I believe.