Capital Spirit

Well, the Opening Night jitters are now a long-distant memory for most, and now it’s time to get into the grind of the season. You can’t win the Cup in October, but you sure can lose it if you stink it up enough. So some teams will be looking to bounce back from a rocky start, while some teams look to settle into a winning groove.

Anaheim Ducks: ONG VS MIN WED, NEW VS STL SAT. A quiet night at the Pond, as the Wild come down to SoCal for the second game in two weeks. The Blues, who opened the season with a two-game sweep of the Wings, could be a surprise on Saturday. MIN Game 2 of 4. STL Game 1 of 4.
Atlanta Thrashers: NEW AT NJD FRI, NEW AT BUF SAT. By the time they get to Buffalo, the Thrash won’t have played a home game in two weeks. They’ll have had time for a few days at home early this week, but their second actual home game of the season isn’t until next week. NJD Game 1 of 4. BUF Game 1 of 4.
Boston Bruins: ICS VS COL MON, ICS AT DAL FRI, ICS AT PHX SAT. It’s all West, all week for the B’s, as they say hello and goodbye to the ‘Lanche, Stars, and ‘Yotes. Three “series” will be decided in the space of six days. COL Game 1 of 1. DAL Game 1 of 1. PHX Game 1 of 1.
Buffalo Sabres: ICS VS DET TUE, NEW VS NYI FRI, NEW VS ATL SAT. The Red Wings will definitely energize the Sabres’ home fans Tuesday night. The Islanders and Thrash, probably not so much. Friday and Saturday are the Sabres’ first games against the Atlantic and Southeast divisions, respectively. DET Game 1 of 1. NYI Game 1 of 4. ATL Game 1 of 4.
Calgary Flames: NEW AT CHI MON, NEW AT CBJ TUE, ONG VS VAN FRI. The Flames open play against the Central Division with a two-games-in-two-nights swing through Chicago and Columbus. (Good grief, this is so many “C” teams that I can’t C straight.) They then come home for a second home game against Vancouver, and they would need to avoid a regulation loss to maintain their series lead. Huh? How can that be when they lead by 2 points? Because Friday night’s game sets up a potential odd-game-out tie break, in which Calgary’s win on Opening Night would be ignored for standings purposes. If Vancouver wins in regulation, they would own the head-to-head tie break, for now. CHI Game 1 of 4. CBJ Game 1 of 4. VAN Game 2 of 6.
Carolina Hurricanes: NEW VS PIT WED, NEW AT NJD SAT. No, no, not the Atlantic Division again! (See Flyers result 10/2.) The ‘Canes welcome the defending champs to Raleigh for a midweek matchup, and I hope the Caniacs defend their house against any potential Pittsburgh pecadillos. From there, it’s off to The Rock for a Saturday night dance with the Devils. PIT Game 1 of 4. NJD Game 1 of 4.
Chicago Blackhawks: NEW VS CGY MON, NEW VS EDM WED, NEW AT NSH THU, NEW VS DAL SAT. Quite a busy slate in the Windy City this week, as the Hawks host three non-division foes, and visit one divisional rival–this after having hosted yet another game just last Saturday. AT NSH might be won or lost on rest. Fortunately for the Hawks, next week’s schedule is much lighter. CGY Game 1 of 4. EDM Game 1 of 4. NSH Game 1 of 6. DAL Game 1 of 4.
Colorado Avalanche: ICS AT BOS MON, ICS AT TOR TUE, ICS AT MTL THU, NEW AT DET SAT. The ‘Lanche play three games in 4 nights on the road, followed by only one day off before ducking octopi. This week could be an early proving ground for Colorado, or it could be a train wreck. BOS Game 1 of 1. TOR Game 1 of 1. MTL Game 1 of 1. DET Game 1 of 4.
Columbus Blue Jackets: NEW VS CGY TUE, NEW VS LAK SAT. A light schedule at home this week should help the Jackets rest up for another 4-game road trip next week. Calgary’s a solid team, and Los Angeles is on the rise, so this could be a good barometer for the Jackets to see how they match up against the West. Oddly enough, Columbus has yet to play any teams from the Central Division, and won’t open divisional play until Veterans’ Day–by which time they’ll already have faced three teams from, of all divisions, the Southeast. CGY Game 1 of 4. LAK Game 1 of 4.
Dallas Stars: ONG VS NSH WED, ICS VS BOS FRI, NEW AT CHI SAT. Nashville leads the season series by 1, but any win would give the Stars the series edge right now. A regulation win puts them up by 1 outright, while an overtime win would square the series 3-3–at which point Dallas would own the tie break on the odd game out. Boston and Chicago are both powerhouse teams, and having to face them on consecutive nights could be tricky–especially as the second game is on the road. NSH Game 2 of 4. BOS Game 1 of 1. CHI Game 1 of 4.
Detroit Red Wings: NEW AT BUF TUE, NEW VS LAK THU, NEW VS COL SAT. The Wings take a week away from the Central slate, and open open three new series. Buffalo will pay a visit to The Joe later this year, and just as well–HSBC Center is no fun to play in (just ask the Caps.) None of these teams made the playoffs last year, so Detroit could be looking to slow down a bit and prepare for a two-week stretch without a game in their own barn. BUF Game 1 of 2. LAK Game 1 of 4. COL Game 1 of 4.
Edmonton Oilers: NEW AT NSH MON, NEW AT CHI WED, NEW VS MIN FRI. A couple of visits to the Central might not be worth much comment, but a Friday night home division opener might have been–if it weren’t against last-place Minnesota. @CHI will be a good early test against last year’s conference finalists, but other than that, it could be a quiet week for the Oilers. NSH Game 1 of 4. CHI Game 1 of 4. MIN Game 1 of 6.
Florida Panthers: NEW AT TBL MON, NEW VS PHI FRI. The Battle of the Sunshine State is always a fun one, and the Flyers are going to be a tough team this year (as we Caps fans found out last week). Not a lot of games for the Cats–just difficult ones. TBL Game 1 of 6. PHI Game 1 of 4.
Los Angeles Kings: NEW AT NYI MON, NEW AT NYR WED, NEW AT DET THU, NEW AT CBJ SAT. It’s a double dip in the Big Apple to open the week, and I’m wondering which Billy Joel song will describe those games: “Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway”, or “Say Goodbye to Hollywood”? Then it’s on to the Joe–stay out of the sin bin, guys!–and a Saturday night joust with the Jackets. Quite a busy week for the Kings. NYI Game 1 of 2. NYR Game 1 of 2. DET Game 1 of 4. CBJ Game 1 of 4.
Minnesota Wild: ONG AT ANA WED, NEW AT EDM FRI, NEW AT VAN SAT. The Ducks are going to try to give Minnesota some payback for their extra-session win up North. If the Ducks need extra time to do it, I’ll actually get to use the Even column for the first time this season. Edmonton will make for a good division rivalry, and the ‘Nucks have Luongo–and you can ask Caps fans how he does in divisional play. I remember his days with the Panthers, and not very fondly, let me tell you. ANA Game 2 of 4. EDM Game 1 of 6. VAN Game 1 of 6.
Montreal Canadiens: ICS VS COL THU, NEW VS OTT SAT. A light week for the Habs, in terms of both schedule and competition–at least on paper. Colorado has been hot lately, though, and it’s almost always an interesting hockey game when they don’t have to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” This might be a more exciting week for the Habs than it looks going in. COL Game 1 of 1. OTT Game 1 of 6.
Nashville Predators: NEW VS EDM MON, ONG AT DAL WED, NEW VS CHI THU, ICS AT WSH SAT. Not much to say about Edmonton, and Dallas is as noted in their remarks. Chicago should be a good divisional opener, and Washington is looking to prove something this week. EDM Game 1 of 4. DAL Game 2 of 4. CHI Game 1 of 6. WSH Game 1 of 1.
New Jersey Devils: NEW AT WSH MON, NEW VS ATL FRI, NEW VS CAR SAT. New Jersey finishes up with its opening tour of the Southeast Division. Washington will be no slouch in their barn Monday night, and Atlanta and Carolina might be looking for early statements. WSH Game 1 of 4. ATL Game 1 of 4. CAR Game 1 of 4.
New York Islanders: NEW VS LAK MON, NEW AT BUF FRI, ICS VS SJS SAT. The Kings are on the rise, Buffalo is never a fun building, and the Sharks are the defending President’s Trophy winners. Lots of luck, guys. LAK Game 1 of 2. BUF Game 1 of 4. SJS Game 1 of 1.
New York Rangers: NEW VS TOR MON, NEW VS LAK WED, ONG AT TOR SAT. A visit from the Kings interrupts an Original Six home-and-home. Toronto is struggling early, and may want to make some sort of statement against the Rangers before their season gets out of hand. TOR Games 1 and 2 of 4. LAK Game 1 of 2.
Ottawa Senators: NEW VS PIT MON, NEW VS TBL THU, NEW AT MTL SAT. As with the Rangers, an on-paper snoozer interrupts two intriguing bookends. Pittsburgh is doing well early, and Montreal may still be looking for a course correction after a disastrous tour of western Canada. Will there be any enthusiasm available for the Bolts? PIT Game 1 of 4. TBL Game 1 of 4. MTL Game 1 of 6.
Philadelphia Flyers: NEW AT FLA FRI. The Flyers head down to Florida for a week of team-building, before taking on the Cats on Friday night. That’s their only game this week, which frankly confused the heck out of me until I saw the story on the Flyers’ website. FLA Game 1 of 4.
Phoenix Coyotes: NEW AT SJS MON, NEW VS STL THU, ICS VS BOS SAT. Yet another NHL team with a bookend week. Here, the Yotes have a decent St. Louis team coming to town Thursday night, but they also have to play against last year’s top teams in both the West and East–the former, the first game of half a dozen this year. A snoozer of a week for the Desert Dogs this sure as shootin’ won’t be. (I can’t even do a southwestern accent in cold text–THAT’S bad.) SJS Game 1 of 6. STL Game 1 of 4. BOS Game 1 of 1.
Pittsburgh Penguins: NEW AT OTT MON, NEW AT CAR, WED, NEW VS TBL SAT. The Pens wrap up a four-game road swing, and settle in for a leisurely two weeks at home–during which they’ll play just five games. Nice schedule if you can get it. OTT Game 1 of 4. CAR Game 1 of 4. TBL Game 1 of 4.
San Jose Sharks: NEW VS PHX MON, NEW AT WSH THU, ICS AT NYI SAT. VS PHX will be the last game at the Shark Tank until the 28th, so the Sharks need to enjoy that home cooking while they’ve got it. Washington may be in for a surprise if the Sharks mop the rink with the Yotes on Monday, and aren’t that concerned about Saturday night’s fight with the Fishermen. PHX Game 1 of 6. WSH Game 1 of 2. NYI Game 1 of 1.
St. Louis Blues: NEW AT PHX THU, NEW AT ANA SAT. The Blues have a few days to themselves before a two-stop swing through the Pacific. A visit to Pittsburgh looms on the horizon. PHX Game 1 of 4. ANA Game 1 of 4.
Tampa Bay Lightning: NEW VS FLA MON, NEW AT OTT THU, NEW AT PIT SAT. The Bolts are going to get a look at all three divisions in the Eastern Conference this week, and again it’s a bookender: a cross-state rival to start the week, a visit to the champs’ barn to finish it off, wrapped around a midweek visit to…Ottawa? Say this, though: the Sens’ schedule is a mirror image of the Bolts’: they start in Pittsburgh, end the week against the Habs, and here are the Bolts in the middle. AT OTT could thus be very, very exciting…or so boring you could watch your Chia Pet grow. FLA Game 1 of 6. OTT Game 1 of 4. PIT Game 1 of 4.
Toronto Maple Leafs: NEW AT NYR MON, ICS VS COL TUE, ONG VS NYR SAT. You hate to use the phrase “must-win” in October, but if the Leafs can’t take care of the ‘Lanche in their own barn Tuesday night, AND manage at least a split with the Blueshirts, it might be a long, long winter at the ACC. NYR Game 1 AND 2 of 4. COL Game 1 of 1.
Vancouver Canucks: ONG AT CGY FRI, NEW VS MIN SAT. The ‘Nucks can hold the tie break against the Flames with a regulation win on Friday night. Saturday night could be quite a party in Vancouver if Minnesota doesn’t bring their game. (Would that make it a Wild party?) CGY Game 2 of 6. MIN Game 1 of 6.
Washington Capitals: NEW VS NJD MON, NEW VS SJS THU, ICS VS NSH SAT. New Jersey could be brutal–the trap may be back in style in Joisey, and that’s both tough to beat and tougher to watch. San Jose is doing its usual April act in October, which this Caps fan hopes they keep up Thursday night. And if Varlamov gets the start on Saturday night, the Preds may kick themselves: the Caps drafted Varlamov with Nashville’s pick, which the Preds gave away–with Kris Beech, no less–for a rental on Brendan Witt way back in 2006. NJD Game 1 of 4. SJS Game 1 of 2. NSH Game 1 of 1.

INTER-CONFERENCE SINGLES
Boston at Dallas
Boston at Phoenix
Colorado at Boston
Colorado at Montreal
Colorado at Toronto
Detroit at Buffalo
Nashville at Washington
San Jose at New York Islanders

POTENTIAL “ODD GAMES OUT”
Nashville at Dallas. As noted in Dallas remarks.
Vancouver at Calgary. As noted in Calgary remarks.

POTENTIAL SERIES WINS/LOSSES
None.

MAGIC NUMBERS OF NOTE
None.

POTENTIAL CLINCHES/ELIMINATIONS
None.

Had to go out to Arlington this morning on personal business–absolutely nothing to be concerned about, if any of my readers give a puck–and took in the Caps’ practice while I was out there. I know who’s starting, I know who’s getting scratched, and I’m going to keep that to myself for now–no sense giving away team information in public. I will, however, set that info to auto-publish at 6:55 PM tonight–close enough to game time that it won’t affect the visitors’ lineup, but not so close that people will accuse me of seeing it on the board. (Not that I could post it from the Phone Booth even if I wanted to, but that’s another story.)

I’m not going anywhere else this afternoon–I have to update my tables and put the final touches on the week ahead preview that I ended up leaving incomplete yesterday afternoon. No more of that–I’ll finish that beast before I do anything else on future Sundays, no matter how late that goes. If that means I don’t leave my apartment on Sunday, oh, well. Not that it matters much–nobody’s reading the write-ups last I checked. My stats page says my Week II write-up got five hits the day it was published, and hasn’t been read by anyone since. Not sure why I’m doing that much work if no one’s reading it, but perhaps readership on that series will pick up as the season progresses, so I’ll keep at it despite the single-figure (so far) traffic.

Back to work. See you at the rink tonight as the New Jersey Devils take on Your Washingtoooooooooon CAPITALS!!

CAPITAL SPIRIT
BAKING BROWNIES, I GUESS

I know I’ve been a bit remiss in posting as of late, but I’ve got one hockey-related project I’m working on behind the scenes that I hope will pay dividends as the season progresses.

That Head to Head chart I’m working on–you have looked at it, right?–requires a bit more setup than just setting up the table and updating it. When series even up, I have to know how many games have been played in each team’s city, or else the tie break information won’t be correct. So what I’m doing is going through the schedules of all 30 NHL teams and breaking down which games got played in which market. There are 1,230 games in the NHL season, and I have to have the schedules from the perspectives of both teams–so I end up with 2,460 notes once it’s over. Fortunately, the more teams I get done, the quicker the later teams’ schedules fall in place. I know the schedule has been out for a while, but I’m actually using my schedule watch for this–best Christmas present I ever got, with a public thanks to my brother and sister-in-law–and Game Time only released the new slate a couple of weeks ago.

Once that’s done, it’s done, and I can turn my attention back to writing stuff that people are, you know, actually going to see.

So, for my regulars, pardon my stiff upper lip in early October: by the time we hit April, I’m sure I’ll have written more than even I expect.

Now, then, whose schedules am I working on next…

CAPITAL SPIRIT
IT’S A SETUP, I TELL YA…NO, WAIT, THAT WAS THE PITTSBURGH SERIES

Now that the opening jitters are out of the way, it’s time to get down to business.

Anaheim Ducks: NEW AT MIN TUE, NEW AT BOS THU, ICS AT PHI SAT, ICS AT NYR SUN (RIS). The Ducks head out on a brutal four-game road swing, with the last three up against playoff squads from the East. Fortunately for the Ducks, the latter two are inter-conference singles: once they’re done, they aren’t scheduled to meet again this year. MIN Game 1 of 4. BOS Game 1 of 2. PHI Game 1 of 1. NYR Game 1 of 1.
Atlanta Thrashers: NEW AT STL THU, NEW AT OTT SAT. Games 1 and 2 of a two-week, five-game road swing. STL Game 1 of 2. OTT Game 1 of 4.
Boston Bruins: NEW VS ANA THU, NEW VS NYI SAT. These are games 3 and 4 of a 5-game home stand–the B’s will spend nearly the first two full weeks of the season at home. Hope they enjoy it–they’ll be paying for this in March. ANA Game 1 of 2. NYI Game 1 of 4.
Buffalo Sabres: NEW VS PHX THU, ICS AT NSH SAT. Saturday night’s diversion to the Music City interrupts two weeks and five games at home for the Sabres. PHX Game 1 of 2. NSH Game 1 of 1.
Calgary Flames: NEW VS MTL TUE (RDS), ONG AT EDM THU; NEW VS DAL FRI. A little bit of everything this week for the Flames: Eastern Canada, more of the Oilers, and some visitors from the Deep South. MTL Game 1 of 2. EDM Game 2 of 6. DAL Game 1 of 4.
Carolina Hurricanes: NEW VS TBL TUE, NEW VS FLA FRI, ONG AT TBL SAT. It’s all Southeast, all week for Carolina, with a visit from the Swamp Cats interrupting an otherwise home-and-home with the Bolts. TBL Games 1 AND 2 of 6. FLA Game 1 of 6.
Chicago Blackhawks: NEW AT DET THU, NEW VS COL SAT. The Hawks will pay a visit to the Joe, in a battle of who can get over their jet lag the fastest. Then it’s home for a scrappy ‘Lanche team that could want to make an early statement. DET Game 1 of 6. COL Game 1 of 4.
Colorado Avalanche: NEW AT NSH THU, NEW AT CHI SAT. Colorado gets four days off early this week, and they’ll need every one of them. These two games open up a two-week, seven-game road swing. NSH Game 1 of 4. CHI Game 1 of 4.
Columbus Blue Jackets: NEW AT VAN MON, NEW AT SJS THU, NEW AT PHX SAT. The Jackets hit the road this week, to open three conference series. Memo to the national networks: Mason vs. Luongo might have been a heck of a goaltending duel to showcase early on. VAN Game 1 of 4. SJS Game 1 of 4. PHX Game 1 of 4.
Dallas Stars: NEW AT EDM TUE, NEW AT CGY FRI, NEW AT VAN SUN. Dallas heads north of the border for a 3-game road trip. EDM Game 1 of 4. CGY Game 1 of 4. VAN Game 1 of 4.
Detroit Red Wings: NEW VS CHI THU, NEW VS WSH SAT. Two red-hot games at the Joe in three nights: an Original Six showdown with the Hawks, and a Saturday night contest with the Capitals. CHI Game 1 of 6. WSH Game 1 of 2.
Edmonton Oilers: NEW VS DAL TUE, ONG VS CGY THU, NEW VS MTL SAT (CBC, RDS). These are the last three games of a four game home stand. Calgary game could get very interesting. DAL Game 1 of 4. CGY Game 2 of 6. MTL Game 1 of 2.
Florida Panthers: NEW AT CAR FRI, NEW VS NJD SAT. A quick back-to-back set after recuperating from all that frolicking in Finland. CAR Game 1 of 6. NJD Game 1 of 4.
Los Angeles Kings: NEW VS SJS TUE, NEW VS MIN THU, NEW AT STL SAT. Hope the Kings enjoy the home cooking while they’re getting it this week. Saturday night’s game in St. Louis opens up a fifteen-day stretch where the Kings play 7 out of 8 on the road. They will, however, get that back with interest in January. SJS Game 1 of 6. MIN Game 1 of 4. STL Game 1 of 4.
Minnesota Wild: NEW VS ANA TUE, NEW AT LAK THU, NEW AT SJS SAT. The Wild sneaks its home opener in on a Tuesday night–Minnesotans, I’d be upset, too–before setting out for a five-game road trip that eventually involves all three California teams and two stops north of the border. ANA Game 1 of 4. LAK Game 1 of 4. SJS Game 1 of 4.
Montreal Canadiens: NEW AT CGY TUE (RDS), NEW AT VAN WED (RDS, TSN), NEW AT EDM SAT (CBC, RDS). The final three games of a season-opening, five-game road trip find the Habs cruising Western Canada. All three teams will eventually play Centre Bell later this season, so we’ll see how these series begin. CGY Game 1 of 2. VAN Game 1 of 2. EDM Game 1 of 2.
Nashville Predators: NEW VS COL THU, ICS VS BUF SAT. Depending on how well Sabres fans travel, it could be a light week for the Preds. But they might need it: 6 of their next eight are away from the Music City. COL Game 1 of 4. BUF Game 1 of 1.
New Jersey Devils: NEW VS NYR MON (RDS, Versus, TSN2), NEW AT TBL THU, NEW AT FLA SAT. Lots of national coverage for Monday night’s game against the Blueshirts, and if previous Hudson Valley tilts are any guide, this could be as can’t-miss as they get in October. The Devils then take off for a three-game Southeast swing. NYR Game 1 of 6. TBL Game 1 of 4. FLA Game 1 of 4.
New York Islanders: NEW AT OTT THU, NEW AT BOS SAT. Could be an awfully quiet week on the Island. OTT Game 1 of 4. BOS Game 1 of 4.
New York Rangers: NEW AT NJD MON (RDS, Versus, TSN2), NEW AT WSH THU, ICS VS ANA SUN (RIS). This week could get some chins wagging in Manhattan. New Jersey is always a bitter feud, and the Capitals surprised the Rangers in last year’s playoffs by flat-out refusing to roll over and die. As for the Ducks, chippy may as well be their middle name. NJD Game 1 of 6, WSH Game 1 of 4, ANA Game 1 of 1.
Ottawa Senators: NEW AT TOR TUE (TSN), NEW VS NYI THU, NEW VS ATL SAT. It’s Round One of the Battle of Ontario, before the Sens come back to open their home slate against the Islanders. That opens a stretch where the Sens play six out of seven games at home. Sens fans, don’t get too carried away if your team runs the table this week–the Islanders and Thrashers aren’t the best of measuring sticks. Yet. TOR Game 1 of 6. NYI Game 1 of 4. ATL Game 1 of 4.
Philadelphia Flyers: NEW VS WSH TUE (Versus, TSN2), NEW VS PIT THU, ICS VS ANA SAT. This is the kind of three-game home stand Flyers fans dream of. Old Patrick Division rival Washington, cross-state rival Pittsburgh, and a Ducks squad that plays chippy: this should be a pretty good early-season measure for the Flyers. WSH Game 1 of 4. PIT Game 1 of 6. ANA Game 1 of 1.
Phoenix Coyotes: ICS AT PIT WED (TSN), NEW AT BUF THU, NEW VS CBJ SAT. The desert meets the Arctic as the ‘Yotes play their only game against the Penguins this year. Then it’s on to Buffalo, followed by the ‘Yotes home opener on Saturday night. If you’re at the home opener, ‘Yotes fans, enjoy the show–no telling if you’ll get to see the likes of it ever again. PIT Game 1 of 1. BUF Game 1 of 2. CBJ Game 1 of 4.
Pittsburgh Penguins: ICS VS PHX WED (TSN), NEW AT PHI THU, NEW AT TOR SAT (CBC). Phoenix isn’t going to kowtow, and the Flyers will want revenge for their playoff losses to the Penguins the past two seasons. The Leafs, meanwhile, are going to want a good early measuring stick, and they don’t make better measuring sticks than the defending champs. The Pens shouldn’t have much trouble with either the Coyotes or the Maple Leafs, but the Flyers will be a whole other bag of catnip. PHX Game 1 of 1. PHI Game 1 of 6. TOR Game 1 of 4.
San Jose Sharks: NEW AT LAK TUE, NEW VS CBJ THU, NEW VS MIN SAT. The Sharks head downstate for a clash with the Kings, before coming home to get acquainted with two other teams from the other two divisions. All three of these games do have their intrigue: an in-state rivalry with Los Angeles, and the Sharks’ offense against, potentially, a couple of solid meshminders in Steve Mason and Niklas Backstrom. LAK Game 1 of 6. CBJ Game 1 of 4. MIN Game 1 of 4.
St. Louis Blues: NEW VS ATL THU, NEW VS LAK SAT. After dueling with Detroit in Sweden, the Blues come home for a couple of days before being served a couple of potential softballs. Neither the Thrashers nor the Kings made it out of the regular season last year, and their respective offseason additions may still be a game or two away from hitting full stride. The Blues, I’m sure, certainly hope so. ATL Game 1 of 2. LAK Game 1 of 4.
Tampa Bay Lightning: NEW AT CAR TUE, NEW VS NJD THU, ONG VS CAR SAT. The Devils break up a home-and-home with the Hurricanes. Both teams made the playoffs, with Carolina ousting New Jersey in the first round. This could be a good early test for the Bolts. CAR Games 1 AND 2 of 6. NJD Game 1 of 4.
Toronto Maple Leafs: NEW VS OTT TUE (TSN), NEW VS PIT SAT (CBC). Not many games this week, and not much travel, but man, are these games doozies. Ottawa-Toronto is always a tough game, and the defending champs make their first visit to the ACC on Saturday night–no additional hype needed. OTT Game 1 of 6. PIT Game 1 of 4.
Vancouver Canucks: NEW VS CBJ MON, NEW VS MTL WED (RDS, TSN), NEW VS DAL SUN. The Canucks open their home docket with a Monday night joust with the Jackets, followed by home for the Habs on Wednesday and the Stars in, of all things, a Sunday nightcap. Do people sleep in on Mondays in Vancouver? Seriously…a Sunday nightcap? Whazzupwidat? CBJ Game 1 of 4. MTL Game 1 of 2. DAL Game 1 of 4.
Washington Capitals: NEW AT PHI TUE (Versus, TSN2), NEW VS NYR THU, NEW AT DET SAT. It’s going to be a challenging week for the Capitals. All three of their opponents were in the playoffs last year. One is a bitter rival from the Patrick Division days. One is coming back to Washington with designs on avenging their playoff defeat. And one is the defending Western Conference Champion. It won’t be an easy week for Washington. PHI Game 1 of 4. NYR Game 1 of 4. DET Game 1 of 2.

INTER-CONFERENCE SINGLES
Anaheim at Philadelphia
Anaheim at New York Rangers
Buffalo at Nashville
Phoenix at Pittsburgh

POTENTIAL “ODD GAMES OUT”
Calgary at Edmonton. Series Game 2/6, @EDM Game 2/3.

POTENTIAL SERIES WINS/LOSSES
None.

MAGIC NUMBERS OF NOTE
None.

POTENTIAL CLINCHES/ELIMINATIONS
None.

(Well, here’s one more project for me to start and hope I can keep up with as the season rolls along. Each Sunday, I hope to go live with a preview of the coming week’s season series. I’m starting Week I today because it’s a short week–the last one I’m going to have for quite some time. Because season series are a factor in playoff races–just ask the Panthers–I’ll need to be current with all series, league-wide, to do the Magic Numbers table correctly down the stretch. So, without further ado, here goes nothing. Wish me luck!–CS)

The regular season gets underway this Thursday night. Lots of series will begin this week, but one actually ends this week, oddly enough. Here’s a look at the first four days of the regular season, for all 30 teams.

Anaheim Ducks: NEW VS SJS SAT. The Ducks kick things off at the Pond in a Saturday night showdown with the Sharks. SJS Game 1 of 6.
Atlanta Thrashers: NEW VS TBL SAT. The Thrashers open the season at home on a Saturday night, against division rival Tampa Bay. TBL Game 1 of 6.
Boston Bruins: NEW VS WSH THU (Versus), NEW VS CAR SAT. The B’s start with a couple of home games against the two best teams in the Southeast. VS WSH could be a potential playoff matchup, and should be a good excuse to tune in on Versus. WSH Game 1 of 4. CAR Game 1 of 4.
Buffalo Sabres: NEW VS MTL SAT (CBC, RDS). It’s Game On in the Northeast, as the Sabres and Habs renew acquaintances. MTL Game 1 of 6.
Calgary Flames: NEW VS VAN THU (CBC), NEW AT EDM SAT (CBC). Meanwhile, over in the Northwest, the Flames get their season underway with a double dose of western Canadian foes. VAN Game 1 of 6. EDM Game 1 of 6.
Carolina Hurricanes: NEW VS PHI FRI, NEW AT BOS SAT. Carolina plays two games in two nights to open the season, neither one against the Southeast. PHI Game 1 of 4. BOS Game 1 of 4.
Chicago Blackhawks: END HH FLA FRI/SAT (in Helsinki, FIN; FRI Versus). Chicago opens the season in Europe, playing a “home and home” against the Florida Panthers. FLA Games 1 AND 2 of 2.
Colorado Avalanche: NEW VS SJS THU (Versus), NEW VS VAN SAT. Colorado’s opener is no small test: the San Jose Sharks, winners of the President’s Trophy. They’ll stay home for a Saturday night Northwest showdown against Vancouver. SJS Game 1 of 4. VAN Game 1 of 6.
Columbus Blue Jackets: NEW VS MIN SAT. Not exactly the highest-wattage game of the night if you like offense; hog heaven if you want a goalies duel. MIN Game 1 of 4.
Dallas Stars: NEW VS NSH SAT. Southern hospitality? Don’t bet on it here. NSH Game 1 of 4.
Detroit Red Wings: NEW HH STL FRI/SAT (in Stockholm, SWE; FRI Versus). Sweden got the better matchup, I think–two division rivals, instead of an inter-conference “That’s all, Folks!” STL Games 1 AND 2 of 6.
Edmonton Oilers: NEW VS CGY SAT (CBC). The Oilers will be rested for their first game against the Flames, who will already have one game under their belts when they take the ice. CGY Game 1 of 6.
Florida Panthers: END HH CHI FRI/SAT (in Helsinki, FIN; Friday Versus.) Well, that’s one season series out of the way. CHI Games 1 AND 2 of 2.
Los Angeles Kings: NEW VS PHX SAT. This might be the Pacific Division’s “Battle of Who Could Care Less.” PHX Game 1 of 6.
Minnesota Wild: NEW AT CBJ SAT. Have fun, guys. That Steve Mason guy might be pretty good for a sophomore. CBJ Game 1 of 4.
Montreal Canadiens: NEW AT TOR THU (CBC, RDS), NEW AT BUF SAT (CBC, RDS). The Habs get underway with a couple of road games against two non-playoff teams in the Northeast. TOR Game 1 of 6. BUF Game 1 of 6.
Nashville Predators: NEW AT DAL SAT. Nashville is on the road for their only regular season game this week. DAL Game 1 of 4.
New Jersey Devils: NEW VS PHI SAT. I don’t think these two teams like each other very much. PHI Game 1 of 6.
New York Islanders: NEW VS PIT SAT. If fans of the Fishermen are grumbling about hosting the defending champs for Opening Night, I don’t blame them. PIT Game 1 of 6.
New York Rangers: NEW AT PIT FRI (RDS), NEW VS OTT SAT (CBC). Any team can look easy at home when you just got done playing the Stanley Cup champs the night before. PIT Game 1 of 6. OTT Game 1 of 4.
Ottawa Senators: NEW AT NYR SAT (CBC). The Senators open the season by portraying the bad guys in the best show on Broadway. NYR Game 1 of 4.
Philadelphia Flyers: NEW AT CAR FRI, NEW AT NJD SAT. Two games in two nights, both on the road? That’s how the Flyers get to open their season? It’s enough to make a Caps fan sympathetic. Almost. CAR Game 1 of 4. NJD Game 1 of 6.
Phoenix Coyotes: NEW AT LAK SAT. Well, at least now the ‘Yotes soap opera can be about their performance on the ice. Will losing The Great One behind the bench mean one more albatross? LAK Game 1 of 6.
Pittsburgh Penguins: NEW VS NYR FRI (RDS), NEW AT NYI SAT. It’s all New York for Opening Weekend for the defending champs, as two Atlantic rivalries fire off opening salvos. NYR Game 1 of 6. NYI Game 1 of 6.
San Jose Sharks: NEW AT COL THU (Versus), NEW AT ANA SAT. The Sharks will give Colorado all it can handle on Opening Night, and then look for payback against the division rivals who upset them in last year’s playoffs. COL Game 1 of 4. ANA Game 1 of 6.
St. Louis Blues: NEW HH DET FRI/SAT (In Stockholm, SWE; FRI Versus). If I were the Blues, I’d be sweating bullets about the prospect of facing the defending Western Conference champs twice in two nights to open the season. Now add jet lag–uh, yeah, right. Lots of luck, Blues. DET Games 1 AND 2 of 6.
Tampa Bay Lightning: NEW AT ATL SAT. Neither team made the playoffs last year. The Thrashers are trying to become less of a hockey basket case, while the Bolts look like they’re trying to become more of one. ATL Game 1 of 6.
Toronto Maple Leafs: NEW VS MTL THU (CBC, RDS), NEW AT WSH SAT (CBC). This will be an interesting opening weekend for the Leafs, who will face two of last year’s Eastern playoff teams. MTL Game 1 of 6. WSH Game 1 of 4.
Vancouver Canucks: NEW AT CGY THU (CBC), NEW AT COL SAT. The ‘Lanche go from a nightcap on Thursday to a matinee on Saturday. The ‘Nucks go from a nightcap on Thursday to a matinee on Saturday…but they have to travel for it. Rest might be a factor. CGY Game 1 of 6. COL Game 1 of 6.
Washington Capitals: NEW AT BOS THU (Versus), NEW VS TOR SAT (CBC). The Caps get to be part of Game #1 on this year’s NHL docket, with a nationally televised tilt at the other end of the Accela Thursday night. Viewing party is slated for Hard Times Cafe in Springfield, 7 PM. The Caps then come home for another Northeast battle, hosting the Leafs for their home opener. BOS Game 1 of 4. TOR Game 1 of 4.

INTER-CONFERENCE SINGLES
None.

POTENTIAL ODD GAMES OUT
None.

POTENTIAL SERIES WINS/LOSSES
Chicago Blackhawks-Florida Panthers. Series currently tied 0-0. Either team can win; teams could also tie. Series ends Saturday.

MAGIC NUMBERS OF NOTE
None.

POTENTIAL CLINCHES/ELIMINATIONS
None.

A score of mournful weeks ago,
We stood and cheered, and said “’til then.”
But now it’s time to start the show,
And open play for ‘09-’10.

I know there’s not much I can say;
My words mean little, I concede.
But as you Caps come out to play,
I wish you all “Good luck, Godspeed.”

Could I say more, I’d tell you all,
Your failures past to disavow;
To come out playing hard this fall,
And live forever, starting now.

There’s more than grandeur in that phrase.
The quest for Stanley’s Cup, you see,
Is, in a lot of different ways,
A quest for immortality.

When your name’s writ upon that grail,
It shows that, through adversity,
You did against the world prevail,
To stand for all eternity.

So, to the Caps, I’ve this to say:
I know you’ll make it there, somehow.
I do believe you’ll find a way
To live forever, starting now.

The way is long, and hard, and high,
But I believe you’ll make it through.
Remember, though, there is no “try.”
You’ll either “fail,” or you will “do.”

It won’t be easy, this you know.
But contemplate this, I implore:
To what extent will you all go,
To be remembered evermore?

You might lose games; you might feel pain;
There might be sweat upon your brow.
But don’t give up, and don’t complain.
Just live forever, starting now.

Some teams give Washington a fit;
You know who they are, as do I.
But should your paths cross, don’t dare quit;
Just keep on reaching for the sky.

Don’t fear a team, or superstar,
Or hostile rinks at games away;
Believe, with hard work, you’ll go far;
With courage, you will win the day.

And, should you guys take Pittsburgh out,
Would that not be the cat’s meow?
Now, banish any fear and doubt,
And live forever, starting now.

You all were born to play this game.
You all were meant to join this team.
And now, it’s time to stake your claim,
And capture your eternal dream.

This is your moment, gentlemen.
This is your time to be the best.
This chance may never come again;
Are all of you up for this test?

You know the way to victory.
You know the what; you know the how.
Now claim your immortality,
And live forever, starting now.

Given how heavy goalie equipment is, how much extra weight did Jim Carey?

Why was Jeff Friesen? Did he need a thicker sweater?

How much treasure did Rick Berry?

If he could shoot like Ovechkin, how much better would Brian Sutherby?

What, if anything, does Eric Fehr?

Down what mountain did Ivan Majesky?

What sort of beverages does Brooks Laich?

After we traded him, did Mike Bloom?

I don’t know if any of our players ever ended up as CEO’s, but I thought Bill Ranford.

And if he ever broke up with a member of the opposite sex, did Dale Hunter?

So, there you have it…ten puns about current and former Caps that I hope might have made you smile. But I’m afraid no pun in ten did.

Oh, well…can any of you come up with a better Dwayne Zinger?

CAPITAL SPIRIT
LAUGH A LITTLE!

I’ve added a couple of new pages up top: tables for head-to-head matchups, and for playoff magic numbers. They’re both going to be working together, and it’s going to be less work for me to update them as the season progresses. The alternative is to wait until, say, New Year’s Day, and try to crunch all the numbers and catch up on all the series all at once. I know from experience last year that that’s not a good idea. So I’ll be starting the tables on Opening Night, and updating them as I can throughout the season.

For now, though, take a moment and give those charts a click. On the Magic Numbers chart, every team has a top-end total of 164 right now. Over on the Head-to-Head chart, both charts are empty. The new season is the time of promise, when every team is, for one moment, perfect. The new season is as fresh and clean as a freshly-Zammed hockey rink. In less than a month, however, skate blades will cut that perfect ice; and those 164’s will, one by one, at some point go away.

No series have begun; no losses have been taken. For now, even the Islanders are perfect. Take a moment, folks, and contemplate those empty charts. What will they both say come April? No one knows. There are 1,230 games to play between now and then, by which point both of those charts are going to get complicated.

But for now, they are simple. For now, they are uniform. For now, every team is equal with every other. For now, they both say “New Season.” It’s been a long time since we’ve had hockey to watch, and we all want it to get started sooner than later. For now, though, I encourage you to take a look at those empty charts, and contemplate the season of possibility ahead. It’s almost time.

CAPITAL SPIRIT
QUIETLY ANTICIPATING THAT WHICH WAS TO COME

As of this writing, we are little more than three weeks away from the first preseason game of the Capitals’ ‘09-’10 season. And yet, for spiritual reasons, I have to wonder if the season is already over before it has even begun. It’s very difficult for me to write that, but please read me out on this. I know I won’t win any friends by writing any of this, but somebody has got to say this. And I cannot, and will not, remain silent while the spiritual foundation of our season is in danger.

Now, what does all that mean in English? To explain, I need to go over some events of the summer, as best I’ve been able to piece them together. Some of the history is admittedly sketchy, as there are parts of this which I either did not see at the time, or which I currently have no idea where to find.

The Summer of Discontent began even before the final game was over. Being on the wrong end of a 6-2 clunker, at home, in Game 7, against the Pittsburgh Penguins–they of zero PIMs fame–was too much, and a lot of fans, myself included, took that loss hard. Worse, we watched the Penguins go on to win the whole kit-caboodle. If that’s not enough to wreck a summer in Washington, nothing is. So there were a lot of raw emotions among the fans, and some of the discussions on the Caps Message Boards were getting very, very testy.

Even worse, the boards were getting trolled by Penguins fans, who were needling the regulars with seeming impunity. At the same time, some of the regular Caps fans were being disciplined–sometimes with very little explanation of why they were in trouble. The perception, real or imagined, took hold that Penguins trolls were being given the run of the place while regular Caps fans were getting in trouble. Chaos ensued, and it got so out of hand that the off-topic side of the forums was shut down. That set off a near revolt, with several off-topic threads being posted on the main forum. Threads were being deleted, users were being banned, and the entire system was shut down over the 4th of July weekend. The public message may very well have been, Enjoy the holiday weekend, but the subtext seemed plain enough: the entire forum was, essentially, being placed in time-out. Around this time, an unofficial board was created, and members began migrating.

Now, here’s where it admittedly gets a little sketchy, because the only information I have on the unofficial boards right now is secondhand via a source I trust. I don’t know where the unofficial boards are right now, and frankly, I’ve no interest in going there at this time. But my source has offered to give me the URL if I so request. And I may yet take them up on that.

Now, from what I understand, relations between Caps management and a couple of long-time fans got a bit strained. Apparently, one person was told by team management that their employer would be alerted about their abuse of the Caps Message Boards on company time, while another was contacted on their cell phone after posting something that evidently didn’t sit well with team management. That apparently has gotten a lot of keys clacking on the unofficial boards–deservedly so, if that’s true, but more on that further down.

As for the members there, one of the rites of passage on those boards, evidently, is to get yourself banned from the official message boards, although some have not burned that particular bridge just yet. Apparently, those of us who aren’t in the club seem to be viewed with extreme contempt. I’m also told by my source that there’s even some gossip and backbiting going on, although I admittedly have no names on either side at this time: that information has not yet been given to me.

On the ice, everything seems fine: Knuble and B-Mo have been brought in to take the places of Feds and Kozlov; Milan Jurcina’s arbitration was evidently cordial all around, and his new contract isn’t a cap-buster; and most of the returning players from last year’s squad are itching to prove something to the hockey world.

But will any of it matter if the spiritual dimensions of the team are being ignored? I have said before that thoughts, words, and actions affect the greater reality. If that is indeed true, then a discordant fan base can be part of the reason a team does not succeed.

Now, if what I’ve heard of management’s actions are indeed true, that cannot help the team, spiritually, in the long run. Given the raging emotions of a summer of discontent, it would have been ill-advised to alienate long-time fans. Even the appearance of heavy-handedness should have been avoided, if only to avoid staving off a potential fan revolt. If what I’ve been told is true, I must respectfully submit that management has, at best, misread the mood of the fans, and at worst, has overplayed its hand.

This is arguably not the right way to build a united fan base to provide the team with moral and spiritual support. Factionalizing the fan base, I must respectfully submit, is spiritually self-defeating. Last summer, my reading on the fan base spoke of fans who are ready to believe the worst. Given that the Caps’ season ended in the most nightmarish way possible, those fears may have been well-founded. And now, with the season nigh upon us, some fans are in open revolt. That may very well add spiritual obstacles to the Caps’ Stanley Cup dreams. Now, while I don’t think it entirely impossible for the Caps to win the Stanley Cup with a fractured fan base, I must wonder in print if that’s true, or merely wishful thinking on my part. I shudder to consider the latter.

But less than optimal fan management by the team does not, in any way, excuse the behavior of some fans. I’ve said it once, I’ve said it twice, and I’m going to say it a third time: Caps fans, we will not be much help for our team if we’re too busy tearing each other apart. It’s just not possible. We cannot unite for our team’s common good if all we’re in it for is a personal high score on internet debating points. And if we allow ourselves to be rent asunder by our egos and individual pride, then we will have nothing of worth to contribute to our team.

Again, I do not believe it impossible for the Caps to win the Stanley Cup if we fans keep on expecting the worst; doubting management’s intentions; denigrating our players beyond reason; and being so uncivilized amongst ourselves. But it cannot make the going any easier. When an entire forum is scrapped on the official boards, that does not speak at all well of our interpersonal interactions.

I’m no saint in this regard. Fine. You all have me dead to rights on that one. But I’d sooner aim for the stars, and miss, than aim for the gutter, and hit.

We all–me included–must do a better job loving our team, loving our players, and loving our fellow Caps fans. We have to get behind our team as one.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other, but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.”–Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NRSV

We can’t keep doing this, Caps fans. We cannot keep complaining, second-guessing, and infighting. That’s not how fans of a championship team act. Yes, it is proper to point out mistakes, but we all–me included–do it too much, too often. We have to be able to look past our own interests, and to the greater good of our team, and our community.

We have to be the threefold cord that helps pull our team to victory. We can’t continue to be just a bunch of loose strings tied all over the place, pulling in all different directions. As a threefold cord, I believe we could, spiritually, help our team win it all. But if we continue to be just a bunch of loose strings…frayed knot.

The train is about to leave the station for the ‘09-’10 season. I hope we all can get on board, as one, and enjoy the ride. And yet, I doubt it will happen. I’m sure some will choose to stand on the platform and get left behind, and there may be others who try to jump in front and get themselves run over.

But let me put it this way. What, exactly, would it cost us to be full-throated supporters, win or lose, of our team? What, exactly, would we have to sacrifice to get on board this train? Would it be anything other than pride and ego? And, really…how’s that whole incessant negativity thing working out for us so far, anyway?

We can do better, we must do better, and this is the third time I’m having to say it with a four-figure word count. Frankly, I expect this to be about as effective as the other two times. But I cannot, in good conscience, see our fan base breaking apart, and say nothing.

CAPITAL SPIRIT
5 OF CUPS

It’s been noted in several other places that Caps goaltender Jose Theodore’s two-month-old son has passed away.

The death of a child is a tragedy; the death of a newborn is crushing. My sincerest condolences to Jose and his family.

Some passages to consider:

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.
–Mary Elizabeth Frye

Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad.–Ecc 7:3, NRSV

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.
–Alfred, Lord Tennyson

One sunny morning, we’ll rise I know,
And I’ll meet you further on up the road.
–Bruce Springsteen

Even such is Time, which takes in trust
Our youth, and joys, and all we have;
And pays us but with age and dust,
Which, in the dark and silent grave,
When we have wandered all our ways,
Shuts up the story of our days:
And from which earth and grave and dust
The Lord shall raise me up, I trust.
–Sir Walter Raleigh

I stay, I pray
See you in heaven far away.
I stay, I pray
See you in heaven one day.
–Mike Oldfield

But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace.–Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-3, NRSV

Would you know my name,
If I saw you in Heaven?
Would it be the same,
If I saw you in Heaven?
I must be strong,
And carry on,
‘Cause I know I don’t belong
Here in Heaven.
–Eric Clapton

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God Himself will be with them; He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”–Rev 21:3-4a, NRSV

It’s difficult to know where to begin when contemplating the loss of someone who had just begun to live. The question is “Why?”, and there are both too many answers, and none at all.

Consider first the passage from Ecclesiastes. “By the sadness of countenance, the heart is made glad.” I have seen that in action in my own life, and I can say firsthand that it’s true enough to be nearly a law of nature. There have been times in my life where I’ve lost friends and loved ones, and tried to act like I was too composed to mourn. That has always–every single time–ended up making the process more complicated. So go on and cry–in a cruel world, facing a tragic loss, genuine sorrow is nearly always what’s best for the heart.

Let’s turn now to Tennyson. The key part here is this: “And may there be no sadness of farewell when I embark.” Tennyson knew that death was not the end of life, but only part of a much longer journey. What waits beyond the harbor of life, he doesn’t know. He does know, however, that it’s time to set sail upon waters unknown. But he has one last hope: “I hope to see my Pilot face to face when I have crossed the bar.” Once past the bar, and out to sea, he hopes to see the face of God. And so he tells those back on the shore not to be sad at his departure: even though he’s not sure what’s out past the bar, he does trust his Pilot. And he does know that his journey isn’t over yet.

Which brings me to Mary Elizabeth Frye. “Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there. I do not die.” Yes, it is certainly true that a sad face is good for the heart. While it is good to cry, the point here is not to stand at the grave and cry, for it means you’ve stopped there, and intend to stay there. Those we’ve lost, are always with us. There’s no need to stay in one place, mourning. Instead, look around. The softly falling snow, the starshine of the night, the flowers that bloom, all of these can remind us of the loved ones we’ve lost–and will, one day, see again. We don’t have to stay in one place and cry.

And this is where Eric Clapton comes in. “I must be strong, and carry on, ’cause I know I don’t belong here in Heaven.” The passing of a loved one gets us all to contemplate, however briefly, our own eternal fates. For a few moments, we all stand, metaphorically, at the gates of Heaven to wish our loved ones farewell. But we can’t stay there. We don’t belong. Our time has not come yet. Heaven, for us, is, as Mike Oldfield has it, far away. And yet we still pray to see them again, in Heaven, one day. Until then, we can rest assured, as The Wisdom of Solomon has it, that their souls are in the hands of God; no torment shall touch them; and that they are, indeed, at peace.

But it still isn’t easy for those of us who must live on. For not only do we get a short glimpse of Heaven in the passing of a loved one, but we’re also forced to confront our own impermanence. Sir Walter Raleigh put it well: time takes away our youth and our joys, and gives us back age and dust. Still, “from which earth and grave and dust/the Lord shall raise me up, I trust.” And here is where we consider Bruce Springsteen: “One sunny morning, we’ll rise, I know, and I’ll meet you further on up the road.” Our own time will come one day, and most of us will leave loved ones behind on Earth as well. And yet, that will be our time to go further on up the road, and be reunited with those we’ve loved, who have gone before.

For now, though, living on is our responsibility. But it is so hard, isn’t it? They don’t call this place an earthly vale of tears for nothing. And when we lose someone we love, who has only just begun to live, our tears run greater still. On Earth, we may never know why we’ve loved, and lost, one who was so young. But we will know why, once we meet them further on up the road. Until then, we can take comfort in knowing that our loved ones are with their loving Heavenly Father. For “God Himself will be with them; He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Those we’re separated from–in truth, for but a hairsbreadth of eternity–are safe in God’s arms. And one day, we will meet them further on up the road.

Jose, you have my sincerest condolences. My prayer for you is that God and His angels will comfort your entire family in the days, weeks, and months to come. Be comforted; be strengthened; and be blessed.

With deepest sympathies,
Capital Spirit