That's all she wrote.....for this Caps season

This past season for the Washington Capitals was a roller coaster ride. But this isn’t a story about statistics or a how-when-why analysis; I’ll let the experts tackle those subjects. (If you have the Caps app for your smart phone, look for the article “30 Thoughts” written on 5/15 by Mike Vogel; it is an excellent write-up about the season and players.) This is about how I saw the season, especially the playoff games.

The Caps started the year with a bang (7 straight wins), but as the season progressed, the team seemed to falter. Wins weren’t a sure thing. Injuries plagued the organization. Goaltending was, at times, less-than-stellar. Last November a coaching change was made: Bruce Boudreau was out and Dale Hunter was in. The effects were anything but immediate; the team was still stumbling and fighting for wins. In late March, hopes for the post season were as cloudy as a mid-summer thunderstorm. Despite all the struggles, Washington made it into the Stanley Cup playoffs as the 7^th seat.

Watching the post season was beyond exciting.  At times my heart was in my throat, and at times my heart fell on the floor.

• Worst moment: the game 5 loss against NY. It was so gut wrenching I felt as if someone had ripped out my hockey heart and stomped it mercilessly on the cold, hard ice.
• Best moment: the look on Jason Chimera’s face when he scored a goal in game 6 against NY. He looked like a little kid who just opened the best…Christmas…present…EVAR.
• Biggest disappointment: not seeing my favorite player, Michal Neuvirth, guarding the net in any post season games.
• Most pleasant surprise: the skillful, mature, and “wise-beyond-his-years” goaltending displayed by rookie Braden Holtby.
• Cutest moment: After the Game 7 loss by Boston, Goalie Tim Thomas skated over and waved to a child peering through the glass in an effort to console the heartbroken Bruins fan. (Not a Caps moment, but still an awesome hockey moment.)
• Funniest moment: watching Alex Ovechkin try to score a goal against NY from a seated position.
• Saddest moment: being half asleep and hearing the Caps had lost game 3 against NY in triple OT.
• Biggest hope for next season: the Caps will make it to the finals.

The team faces some uncertainty. Their season ended with a muffled thud as the NY Rangers won game 7 this past Saturday. Head Coach Dale Hunter stepped down on Monday. The Caps roster will change even as the search for a new head coach continues. What will the team look like in October? Who will be coaching? How will the team perform? I have no idea what the next season holds. All I know is, I want to be Rockin’ the Red and not singing the blues. LET’S GO CAPS!