The Washington Capitals’ annual playoff bandwagon got rolling on Wednesday afternoon during a “Rock the Red” rally at the Carnegie Library attended by Mayor Muriel Bowser, team owner Ted Leonsis, Caps alums Rod Langway and Alan May, and hundreds of fans.

The current Capitals themselves were not present, as they were (understandably) otherwise engaged at practice a few blocks away at Verizon Center.

Celebrating the team’s outstanding regular season and looking ahead to a playoff campaign during which they will seek to overcome a history of postseason disappointments and bring home Washington’s first Stanley Cup, Bowser officially proclaimed April 14 “Rock the Red Day” in D.C.

“This is an exciting time for the District, and ‘Rock the Red’ is a fun way to support our hometown hockey team in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup,” she said. “I’m counting on D.C. residents to wear red to work, to school, or when you’re out and about in the city. It’s time to show all the teams that Washingtonians are the best fans in the NHL!”

Bowser announced that the Carnegie Library and City Hall would be lit up in red in honor of the occasion, and encouraged fans to light up their own homes as well in a citywide show of spirit. After her speech, Leonsis, Langway, and May presented the mayor with a personalized Capitals jersey—#51, in a nod to the D.C. statehood movement.

During his remarks, Leonsis dedicated his team’s forthcoming playoff efforts to the franchise’s loyal supporters, declaring that “everything we’re about to do and embark on in these playoffs is really to say ‘thank you’ to you.”

“Washington Capitals fans have been eagerly awaiting the playoffs, and it’s great to see Mayor Bowser, members of D.C. City Council, and Greg O’Dell of Events DC being so supportive,” he added. “Verizon Center and the surrounding communities are electric this time of year, and we are all excited to ‘Rock the Red’ and shine the light on our great city and fantastic fans.”

As they cheered on the speakers and mingled with the notables on hand, those in the crowd—including longtime die-hard John Zsembery, who flew in all the way from his native Australia—seemed optimistic that the Caps will not break their hearts once again this year.

Top-seeded Washington opens its Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the eighth-seeded Philadelphia Flyers at 7 p.m. tonight at Verizon Center.