Ah, afternoon hockey!
I love watching a game from the 400's, this time from section 403. The purple seats make me feel closer to my favorite football team (the Vikings) at the same time I root on my favorite hockey squadron. Duality!
Getting into the F Street Entrance was 19 pounds of fun in 13 pound sack. After a few minutes in the whipping wind outside the doors, we finally were able to squeeze in, where we chatted up an older woman who holds season tickets and has damn near every Cap 'graph in the special booklet that those solvent type folk receive. A number of fans were opening up the doors behind me and excusing themselves on the way to the store, which was off to the left. I have no problem with adjusting to accommodate if asked politely, but this one woman came in and immediately sent out deadly gamma rays of "bitch": "Can I get over to the store please?" Don't let the "please" fool you--her demeanor was nothing short of impatient arrogance, completely undue considering she had just walked in the door. I let her pass and then let my own haughty words fill the air behind her: "Buy a new attitude while you're in there." Which, I am proud to say, got a few laughs.
The first 5000 fans through got special "fleece helmets", which I'll be posting pics of tomorrow. I wore mine the whole game. The hat is totally geeky, but hockey geeky, which means it's awesome.
The Caps fandom was strong throughout the venue, but most vehemently in the upper levels. A lone fan also wearing the fleece was making his way to his seat a few rows down when we made eye contact. "It's like Fargo", he commented with great joviality. Patrick, who had just recently seen the movie many consider the Coen Brothers' finest, laughed hardest of all.
I saw my first infant at a hockey game in the row right in front of us. (Well...actual infant, I should say; I've seen and heard plenty mental ones.)
About the game...CAPS LOCK FOR A CAPS WIN! 2-1 in a shootout, of all things; the first of those that Patrick or myself have seen live. Awesome. Viktor Kozlov's winning shot sent us into paroxysms of raw glee and Christobal Huet was the worthy first star of the game, with 39 saves (whereas, in all honesty, Kolzig may have made 37 of them).
So,two very crucial points for Washington. Carolina whipped up on Ottawa, but Philly got creamed (albeit by the bastard Penguins), and we're within two points of surpassing the latter in the playoff hunt. The forthcoming road trip will show if this team really is made for a late push.
The good stuff:
--Well, obviously, the win and the points.
--Washington can win even when Ovechkin doesn't make a dent on the scoreboard.
--"Linus and Lucy" playing during the Mighty Mites games in between periods.
--The boisterous, involved crowd.
--Federov's first goal as a Cap, on a 5 on 3 no less.
--Tom Poti during the second intermission calling out the officials: "I don't know, maybe they want Boston to win." That guy for prez.
The bad stuff:
--The last game against the Bruins and Caps was marred by iffy officiating that cost Washington two vital points. This game was possibly even worse: inexplicable offsides calls, goalie interference on Huet that was not called, a bullshit diving call on Ovy (diving?! When you skate all-out and get tripped, you'll go far and land hard, geniuses, that's far from "diving"). That the Caps still won is testament to their heart, talent, and the fact that the Bruins are pretty much an AHL team, especially with Zdeno Chara out like he was today.
--Alexander Semin had a key shootout goal, but he was sloppier than leftover enchiladas during the game proper. I'm not sure how much more time to develop he needs.
--Ovechkin had a yen to be Adam Oates today, for whatever reason. Russian tank does not pass puck, Russian tank shoot puck.
Next game for the J & P Show...the regular season finale, April 5th against the Florida Panthers. Section 100. Yep. We actually took time out before the game to gaze down there and share sentiments of, "We'll be there."
Hey Jenn, where's a good place to sit when going to see the Caps? We've been wanting to go to a game, but when I look at the seating chart at Ticketmaster, I just scratch my head.
ReplyDeleteAny advice?
Since there's only 3 home games left, and the Caps are still in the hunt, most of the cheaper seats are going to be scarfed up already...but by that I mean those in the 400's. I personally love the wide aerial view of the rink you get from that area of the venue, but that's not for everybody.
ReplyDeleteThe "upper 100's" behind the nets are by and large great, if only to be closer to the rink itself. It's more of a strain to follow the action ice-wide from there, though.
118 and 119 are by the Caps entrance; more expensive and I wouldn't go out of my way.
Our seats for the Panthers game are in Section 100, one of the prime areas in the whole venue. Naturally, they are far from cheap.
Did you check out the TicketExchange at Ticketmaster? That's where Patrick and I got ours. Lots of good priced seats in the 400's (again, I recommend anywhere up there as a great place to see the game), especially for the Tampa game.