For all of the partying done in the past year or so there should be a hangover.
There should be a bit of casual, "been there, done that" attitude among the Washington Capitals and their fans. Well, after a Metro Division title in the regular season the players showed they had avoided any repercussion after their summer of partying with Lord Stanley. But what about the fans?
Place is jumpin tonight! #Caps #NHL @1067theFan #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/xVjcSLpka8
— Chris Russell (@Russellmania621) April 11, 2019Nope. No hangover there.
And the defending Stanley Cup champion Capitals did their part on the ice, winning Game 1 against a pesky and determined Carolina Hurricanes squad, who showed a great deal of grit after going down 3-0 early.
The Capital One Arena crowd was ready to explode, even before Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton fired up the crowd leading the "Let's go Caps!" chant.
Part of the pre-game laser show the #Caps broke out for the #StanleyCup Playoffs on @1067theFan pic.twitter.com/HrjpzHy0Tr
— Chris Russell (@Russellmania621) April 11, 2019"We're absolutely nothing without you guys!" The @Capitals to their fans . This place is juiced. I love this sport so much! @NHL #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/ymg9Hityfx
— Chris Russell (@Russellmania621) April 11, 2019While the Caps struggled to get a shot off in the game's opening 10 minutes, the crowd kicked it into high gear after Nicklas Backstrom opened the scoring in the first period with a goal past Canes goaltender Petr Mrazek.
Goal one of the #StanleyCup defense. #Caps #Back2Back pic.twitter.com/oqv8feYu4M
— Ben Krimmel (@BenKrimmel) April 12, 2019The post Nick Backstrom goal celebration on the #Caps 2nd SOG of the game. 1-0 #ALLCAPS right now on @1067theFan & @Radiodotcom pic.twitter.com/42c9zU5Jzh
— Chris Russell (@Russellmania621) April 12, 2019The crowd's enthusiasm dampened a touch after Carolina made it a 3-2 game in the game's final stanza, but when it came time to unleash the fury, they brought their A-game.
"UNLEASH THE FURY" time here at @CapitalOneArena in a tight one for #CapsCanes on @1067theFan pic.twitter.com/l5gPqj8TmF
— Chris Russell (@Russellmania621) April 12, 2019After the Capitals killed a T.J. Oshie penalty thanks to stellar penalty-kill play from Nicklas Backstrom and company, the crowd was rewarded with a Lars Eller empty-netter to seal a Game 1 victory.
Celebration Time for the #Caps & Lars Eller on @1067theFan pic.twitter.com/1HWDnvJudm
— Chris Russell (@Russellmania621) April 12, 2019For Capitals it is one game down 15 to go. For Caps fans, it is one great performance down. Can they duplicate it in Game 2 Saturday?
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