Capital Spirit

I know I’m late arriving to this little shinding, but come on…the captain of the Baby Pens getting arrested for STREAKING?! What is hockey coming to?! That C on your sweater doesn’t mean clothing-optional! Sheesh!

But at least that answers the question about what kind of penguin the Baby Pens are. They must be Emperor penguins, since they seem to prefer having no clothes.

Meanwhile, I know why the DC Madam hanged herself: she was depressed at the very idea of an all-Pennsyltucky conference final.

Meanwhile, how ’bout the weather in the District today–cold, windy, and wet. It was almost like March had been recalled. Made me miss the Caps a little bit more.

Meanwhile, the honors keep coming for our players: Alzner for WHL Player of the Year, Coach Boudreau is getting an official Jack Adams look, and Ovechkin has been nominated for the Pearson. Not sure what Coach Boudreau is going to say during his acceptance speech–the award is his to lose, I think–but I’m sure it will be inspiring. As for Ovechkin, he had better be ready for his close-up: the night will be all his. Look sharp, Alex: the entire world will be watching.

And let’s not forget Backstrom’s Calder nomination. I’d call him a dark horse for this one, since he didn’t lead the league in rookie scoring. On the other hand, Toews and Kane could end up cancelling each other out. We’ll see. He has a shot, but I think it’s an outside one. I’d like to be wrong.

Unrelated note: Libera has a new CD out called “New Dawn.” It includes their arrangement of “Love and Mercy,” which they sang at the Kennedy Center Honors last year, and which moved several members of the audience to tears. Can’t recommend it enough–it’s an absolutely heavenly sound.

CAPITAL SPIRIT
IS IT OCTOBER YET?

(Readers: I thought this season deserved a final send-off, and I opted to do it in verse. It’s not Shakespeare, but it is from the heart. Enjoy!–CS)

And now that the heartbreak is over, let’s look back at the things that went right.
A lot of good things were accomplished, which will linger long past Tuesday night.
Ovechkin was some revelation. Nicklas Backstrom proved what he can do.
And Semin was gold in the playoffs, while Mike Green was a force from the blue.
A club record was set in goals scored; Olie Kolzig reached three hundred wins;
And a championship banner will rise, when our new hockey season begins.
It was not, true, a Stanley Cup win, but the championship of the Southeast.
But with all Carolina’s success, it’s one thing to be proud of, at least.

And now that the heartbreak is over, let’s take pride in what good things were done.
Despite all of our early setbacks, in the end, ’twas one heck of a run.
It seemed almost too good to be true, and a wonderful way to begin,
When we opened the regular slate, with a win, and a win, and a win.
But then came one loss, then another, and it all seemed to start to go wrong.
We weren’t even out of October, yet our season looked awfully long.
The losses kept up in November, so the fans all began to get gruff.
A five-to-one loss to the Thrashers, and McPhee wisely said, “That’s enough.”
Down I-83 came Bruce Boudreau, for his NHL coaching debut.
The game was an overtime thriller. More important, the Caps won it, too.
Then came more wins, and more wins, and more! The phrase “rebuilding year” soon got squashed.
And a month after taking the reins, Boudreau’s “interim” tag got kibboshed.
January saw still more success. There seemed nothing we couldn’t achieve.
And slowly, but ever more surely, you could feel the fans start to believe.
February was not quite as kind, and the uneven play worried me.
The Caps did more losing than winning, and finished up six-four-and-three.
Came March, and some do-or-die hockey. The Caps couldn’t afford to lose more.
But the went on an absolute tear, and they finished the month ten-and-four!
Then came our three final home contests. Would we live to fight another day?
But the team did not stop believing, and won all three games going away.
The regular season was over, and the Caps had passed one monst’rous test.
They had stood in last place for so long, and then climbed from the worst to the best.

And now that the heartbreak is over, let’s consider our postseason crash.
There might be–we are Caps fans, please note–some who’ll say the whole series was trash.
No, I don’t like the outcome that much. I thought Game Seven should have been ours.
And I thought that the guys in the stripes, were instead crewing some game on Mars.
But our playoffs are over, alas, and our offseason has now begun.
Raise a toast to this Capitals team, that made this hockey season such fun.

For now that the heartbreak is over, there’s a lot we can cherish this year.
Tie the season up with a cute bow, and allow ourselves one final tear.
And now that the heartbreak is over, we can all go–for now–separate ways.
Let’s enjoy all the warmth and the light, and embrace summer’s long, lazy days.
For now that the heartbreak is over, there’s one thing I must say above all.
Be safe in your summer adventures, and come back safe and sound in the fall.
For now that the heartbreak is over, and we’re all saying our last goodbyes,
Let’s await, with anticipation, for the new hockey season to rise.
And now that the heartbreak is over, and our season now stands in recess,
Let’s believe, for when fall’s finally here, we’ll set off on the road to success.
So, now that the heartbreak is over, and ‘07-’08 put to bed,
Let’s look forward to ‘08-’09, and the promise of glory ahead.

—–

Have a great summer, everyone. Be safe. I’ll continue to write over the summer, albeit less frequently. Hope to see you all back at Kettler for training camp, where the Caps will begin another thrilling season. Until then, keep up the spirit.

CAPITAL SPIRIT
THE HEARTBREAK IS OVER

Mr. Kolzig:

It’s been reported that you took your nameplate down from the locker room at Verizon Center following the Caps’ heartbreaking Game 7 loss Tuesday night. As bad as it felt to lose Game 7 in overtime, this makes me feel even worse.

I’m a recent Caps fan–post-lockout–but I vaguely remember your Stanley Cup Finals appearance back in 1998. I had hoped to see you back in net for the Caps in another Stanley Cup Final. It seems, by all accounts, that you have other plans.

I know that you felt insulted when Huet was picked up at the deadline. I know it’s no fun to go from full-time starter to full-time DNP, and then to be forced to watch from the bench as your team loses in the playoffs. I’ve never played hockey, so I’m not going to be trite and say I know how you feel. Because I don’t. I have no experiences in my life that I can compare this to. But I don’t have to have experience to say I can tell it hurts you on a very fundamental level. So while I can’t personally relate to what you’re feeling right now, I know it’s not pleasant.

Olie, you’ve given your heart and soul to this team for a very long time. After over 40,000 minutes in the paint, 20,000-plus shots faced, 301 wins, a King Clancy, and a Vezina, you have every right to be angry at being benched down the stretch, and never taking the ice for the Caps’ first playoff series in half a decade. You played through some very lean years here the past few seasons, and suddenly, you were relegated to backup status just as the team began to see success. You have every right to be angry at how things have turned out this year.

But let me run a name past you: Steve Janaszak. Janaszak, you’ll recall, was the backup goaltender for the 1980 US Olympic hockey team. He was 9-5-1 with Team USA in the months leading up to the Olympics, but he sat on the bench the whole time at Lake Placid. Yet, he still got a gold medal, one that probably shines just as brightly as Jim Craig’s.

Olie, for all the years you’ve given this team, for all the patience you have shown, and for all the lean years you’ve faced recently, I would be heartbroken for you if the Caps raised the Stanley Cup next year, and you weren’t there among them. I want to see you win a Stanely Cup, and I want to see you win it as a member of the Washington Capitals. You can see it firsthand: this is a team on the rise. A year, maybe two, three at most, and I believe the Stanley Cup will be all filled up for the Caps to take a drink.

Olie, you can call me sentimental if you want, but I’d really like to see #37 on the Cup that year, not looking down from the Verizon Center rafters. I’d like to see you leave the Capitals as a Stanley Cup champion.

But if that’s not what you want, then one fan isn’t going to convince you otherwise. And if this really is the end of your tenure with the Capitals, I’m sorry to see it end this way. Whatever road you take from here, Olie, I wish you the best. May God and His angels watch over you, and bring you comfort, love, and peace, now, and for all time. It’s been a privilege to watch you play. Wherever life takes you, may you be blessed. I remain,

Yours in Spirit,
Capital Spirit

Before anyone asks, no, I’m not doing any predictions for Game 7.

The Caps haven’t had too many Game 7’s in their history, and the last one they had in the District was in, what, 1992? So these don’t happen too often. To that end, I want to enjoy this moment, experience the Now, and be just as surprised as everyone else at the outcome tonight.

I said that the series would be hard-fought, but that the Capitals could win after they got used to the whole Playoff Hockey Thing. I said the Caps would win Game 6–and four unanswered goals proved me right. I said before the season even started that we’d make the second round of the playoffs. I saw in the cards that the Caps would win the series, although my five-game guess was a bit optimistic. I see no reason to disBelieve now.

I don’t need to draw a 10 of Chalices to tell me what I already know in my heart: this game is right there for the Caps to take. And I will be there to see it unfold, live and in person. It will be a privilege and an honor for me to watch over a thrilling Game 7 victory tonight.

This is our night, Caps fans. Now, more than any moment this season, is our time to Believe.

CAPITAL SPIRIT
ONWARD TO VICTORY

Another must-win. This one is on the road, alas, and if the Caps can’t figure out Wachovia Center tonight, that’s it.

I think they’ll win this one. I know I said I’d type up the full predictions last night, but I ended up spending too much time on comments to do justice to all ten cards. I will reveal that the Outcome card was the Ace of Wands, which is generally a very friendly card. There’s more to a reading than the outcome, but since no one’s been begging for all the nitty-gritty details of all ten cards, I’ll just say Ace of Wands is the outcome, and let it go at that. If you want to know what cards came up, let me know, and I’ll give a cards-only list.

For tonight, I will be in full regalia–including rave lights–at a Caps-friendly bar near Verizon Center.

CAPITAL SPIRIT
DO OR DIE

According to Ted Leonsis, there will be no more lower-level warm-ups for us 400-level riffraff. I understand the motivation for that; I agree to some extent with Ted’s reasoning; and if it’s really turning into that big a safety issue, then I will defer to that.

It’s not like I have a choice in the matter. It’s his team, and I’m just a fan in the nosebleeds, so it’s not like I matter that much. I genuinely prefer the view upstairs: I’ve seen games from the lower level, and I honestly would rather be upstairs where I can see the entire rink. No matter: I, along with all my fellow upper-level cheapskates, am no longer welcome downstairs during warm-ups.

Very well.

I will give my customary pregame welcome to the Caps from my assigned seat in Section 417. For the record, I’m a very long way from thrilled with that decision. And I REALLY hope it doesn’t end up jinxing the team in Game 7. The joke is that I’m not superstitious because being superstitious is bad luck. Further, I’m not crazy enough to think the players notice or care about what’s going on outside the glass during warm-ups. Nevertheless, if any of the players really HAD been noticing my welcome/blessing–and never mind actually taking any measure of inspiration from it–I hope they don’t miss it too much on Tuesday night.

CAPITAL SPIRIT
LUMPENPROLETARIAT, EVIDENTLY

Earlier this afternoon, after watching the Caps’ thrilling 3-2 win over the Flyers, I got together with my weekend warrior and both our mothers at Legal’s. We all wanted to know if any of us would be back at the Phone Booth Tuesday night, and I opted to do a quick Celtic Cross right on the spot. I wrote down the cards that came up by position, and I hope to have the results online sometime before the puck drops Monday night. The results weren’t as definitive as I would have liked: the outcome was a good card, but still a Minor Arcana card, meaning it’s a free will card and can be changed.

The short version: if the Caps keep doing what they did this afternoon, they’ll likely be back home Tuesday night for Game 7.

But the full reading, as with most Celtic Cross readings, is a lot more nuanced than that. I’ve been busy this evening, and I might not be able to get this posted until tomorrow evening. But my hope is to have it all typed up and ready for your perusal by the time I go to bed Sunday night.

But that’s REALLY a free-will prediction, so no guarantees on that.

Bottom line: based on what I saw in my reading this afternoon, we have what we need to win Game 6, and victory in Game 6 appears likely at this point. Full details to follow when I have time to type them up.

CAPITAL SPIRIT
WINNING IN THEIR HOUSE

At this point, there’s only one thing to say. It’s going to sound hollow, pretentious, and if we lose, it’s going to look ridiculous, but it’s gotta be said.

DON’T STOP BELIEVING.

Especially now.

Yes, it sucks being down 3-1. But the last time Philly won three straight in the playoffs, they lost the series. So there’s hope. Chin up, red on, yell loud, and let’s show those Flyers who the classier (and louder!) fans are.

See you at the Phone Booth.

CAPITAL SPIRIT
COMEBACK TIME

A lot has been made in several places about NBC’s coverage of last Sunday’s loss to the Flyers. The major hullaballoo has centered around one of the announcers using the word “Crapitals.” Ted Leonsis has said he forgives the guy, and he’s satisfied with the outcome. Some quarters of the fan base, however, refuse to be satisfied.

Back in my college days, I majored in Communications, and I spent a lot of time behind the mic, doing radio shows. And, speaking as someone who’s been behind more than one mic in his day, I gotta say it: Cut the man some slack, already.

When you’re live and on the air, everything you say goes out all over the place the second it leaves your lips. When I was on the air at WHFC, and later on WTMD, I put a lot of pressure on myself to get everything as accurate as I possibly could. That meant looking up pronunciations of the artists’ names, pre-reading my PSA copy, and having every song cued up and ready to go well before it was time to punch it in. And when that mic was live, that meant getting in, saying what I had to say, and getting out. Even in my senior year at college, I always got a little bit sweaty-palmed before I miked in at a PSA break. My motto was, if you’re too comfortable, you’re going to make a careless mistake on the air.

But despite all my show-prep, despite working like a madman in the studio when it was my show, and despite my best attempts to make everything perfect, occasionally, I’d make a mistake. These were almost always harmless mistakes–forgetting to bulk-erase a cartridge before re-recording it, for instance–but a mistake is still a mistake. But, you know something? It’s part of the human condition. Humans are humans, and mistakes happen.

Do I approve of this team being called the “Crapitals” live and on national television? No, I don’t. Not in the least. But I do know that until they get angels into the sportscasting racket, that mistakes are going to be made in live telecasts. And when you make a mistake, sometimes you can try to recover and end up digging yourself a deeper hole, which is what happened here.

Let it go, Caps Nation. It was a mistake, albeit admittedly a very, very stupid one. But some are clamoring for an on-air apology during this Saturday’s telecast. I’d welcome one if it were made, but I’m not going to permanently blacklist any broadcaster (or network) for what seemed to be an honest on-air slip-up. I’ve made mistakes behind the mic, as well, and I can tell you from personal experience that being live on the air can sometimes catch you saying something stupid.

Let it go, folks. It’s hard enough being a sportscaster without an entire team’s fan base demanding your head on a platter for an innocent on-air mistake and instinctive overcorrection.

CAPITAL SPIRIT
SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN

I originally was hesitant to do readings for the playoffs. I know I’ve gotten good feedback from some, but so far as I can tell, it’s only because I’ve been predicting success, and I’ve generally been right about it. Let’s say I predict success and I’m wrong; what then? Or, what happens if I see very bad news, and end up right? I’ve already been accused of jinxing this team, and if I accurately predict that the Caps will lose, I’m not going to be the most popular person at the Phone Booth next year.

But the thing is? There are only a handful of cards in the entire deck which would indicate near-unavoidable failure. Any bad news in the Minor Arcana can be avoided with a change in course. As for the Major Arcana, there are only two real show-stoppers (Tower, Death), and a whole lot of hopeful cards (Magician, Strength, Justice, Chariot, Wheel, Star, Sun, Judgement, World, and that’s not even all of them). That’s not to say I’m going to shuffle the cards and just like that deal up certain Capitals victory. I WISH I could do that, but alas, all I can do is read these.

And like a weathercaster, all I can do is read what’s there. And to be truthful to the art, I have to be able to forecast foul weather as easily as I forecast fair. IF there’s any to be seen in the forecast.

So here goes. I’m using Tarot of the Angels in a Celtic Cross layout.

The Question: “How will the Washington Capitals do in their Conference Quarterfinal series with the Philadelphia Flyers?”

Initial impression: There are only two Major Arcana cards showing out of ten on the layout. That’s good: it shows that there’s a lot of free will at work here, and there’s really no Major Life Lesson to be learned here. So, on a subtle level, the Caps are in control of their own fate based on the choices that they make. What’s worrying me is that half the cards on the layout are reversed, which tends to indicate an unwillingness or an inability to accept what’s happening. And one of the cards that’s NOT reversed is a 5, so that’s even more worrisome. Even if I weren’t reading this from other NHL writers, I can tell by looking at this layout that this series will be hard-fought, and the outcome, at this point, is anyone’s guess.

Card 1: Basis. Ace of Pentacles, Reversed. This is not what I wanted to see to start the reading. A reversed Ace of Pentacles would indicate physical or resource-related difficulty at the start of a journey. I think this may be a reference to the health of some of our defensemen, as well as that of Chris Clark. A reversed Ace speaks to not having all you need to get started, or lack of acceptance of resources, generally of a physical, earth-bound nature. It may also be a warning not to rush players back into the lineup who have been sidelined with injuries. Pentacles represent very PRACTICAL, very PHYSICAL, very DOWN TO EARTH matters, and a reversal can indicate that things in this sphere are not quite where they should be. While a reversed Ace is by no means as challenging as, say, a 5, it is at the very least a cautionary note. The team’s physical health may very well end up becoming a factor in this series. I’m not sure if this refers to an injury during this series, or a rushed return of an injured player that upsets the apple cart too much. While this is by no means a red light, it certainly is a yellow one. Based on this, I have to counsel caution in this series where matters of health and physical resources are concerned. The overall impression I get from this is BE CAREFUL. Not “Danger,” not “Batten down the hatches,” not even “Duck and cover.” Just keep your heads up, and make sure you look both ways before crossing Riley Cote. The Flyers are using the phrase “Vengeance Now” as their playoff mantra. I will say it again: BE CAREFUL.

Card 2: Crossing. 3 of Pentacles. Other than in Swords, 3’s are generally fun numbers to have come up. The 3 of Pentacles generally tends to represent being rewarded for a job well done. What’s interesting to me is that it’s coming up as the crossing card. The crossing card in a Celtic Cross layout can indicate the road you’re on, in which case this would be quite good news. But a crossing card can also indicate something that looks good, but which can still get in your way. I’m going to read it both ways, and put it like this. The team is on a general path of success and reward. However, they shouldn’t be so quick to fall in love with these rewards that past rewards start interfering with present success. So, OK, we finished the regular season on a miraculous tear. Great. We made history when we made the playoffs. Fabulous. We’re one of the hottest teams in hockey right now. All well and good. But because this card is a crossing card, there is a slightly cautionary note to it. And that is, don’t fall in love with the success that got you this far. Don’t celebrate yet: you still have to win. This is better news than I’m probably making it out to be, but when I consider the reversed Ace that this is covering, the news isn’t exactly one of unmitigated success. This isn’t a failure signal: just a reiteration of the cautionary note sounded by the reversed Ace of Pentacles as the Basis card.

Card 3: Distant Past. 5 of Cups. I’m glad this is showing up as Distant Past, that’s for sure. The key phrase for the 5 of Cups is “Emotional Loss.” This is the distant past, mind you, but it still affects where things stand right now. My intuition tells me that this harkens back to that Bruins-Penguins weekend a month ago. Some of the negative emotions from that weekend are still at play as this series opens up, if I’m reading this correctly. There may be some doubt as to whether the officials may be biased, or if a freshly-minted division champion with several Stanley Cup Playoff rookies can run and gun with a team that’s trying to resurrect the Broad Street Bullies. If there are doubts, they need to be dismissed. This team is good enough, and the losses of the past need not have any bearing on the series before us. Does somebody need to tell Nicklas Backstrom to forget, now and for all time, that own-goal in the Penguins game?

Card 4: Recent Past. The Chariot, Reversed. This is surprising. The Chariot represents victory through adversity, and the finish to the regular season was a Chariot finish if ever I’ve seen one. And yet, here it is, in the recent past, right where you’d expect it to be, and it’s reversed. This is a Major Arcana card, so it represents one of life’s major lessons. But when a Major Arcana card is reversed, that indicates that the lesson isn’t being learned. Or, in this case, that perhaps the wrong lesson was learned. Now, if the Basis card weren’t enough, and the Crossing card weren’t more than enough, this card in this position is saying, for the third time in four cards: this team MUST not let success go to its head. Just because you guys pulled off a last-game miracle to win the division, does not mean that playoff success is guaranteed. This is a whole new hockey game you’re playing, gentlemen. Don’t think that just because everything went your way to end the regular season, that the first round is going to be a cakewalk. Because it won’t be. This is the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the toughest sporting tournament on the planet, and regular-season miracles mean nothing now. The cards are beating me over the head with this, and I have to say it yet again: what’s past is prologue. Forget the regular season, or you could soon be forgotten in the playoffs.

Card 5: General Direction. 4 of Swords. The 4 of Swords is all about rest and recuperation. There are two ways to look at that. Either the Caps will win very quickly, and be able to rest up before the Conference Semis; or, they’ll be getting more rest than they want when they lose the series. This is another cautionary card, and the impression I’m getting here is, Play like there’s no tomorrow, because afterwards, you’ll have time to recover. Whether that’s an extended series elswhere in the East, or the offseason, I can’t tell. Even the Outcome card isn’t much help here (and no fair skipping ahead.) There will be time to rest when this series is over, but under what conditions?

Card 6: Immediate Future. Knave of Wands, Reversed. This card came up just two weeks ago–peculiar. I think this is a reference to a player, a rookie or sophomore, who embodies spirit, fire, warmth, and maturity beyond his years. Backstrom again? I hope not, because reversed, that might indicate that he has doubts about the playoffs. I hope Nicklas doesn’t have the off couple of games that this might seem to indicate, but this really does feel like “his” card, and it’s reversed. I want to be wrong here, but this certainly isn’t the best card to find in this position.

Card 7: Querant. Queen of Swords, Reversed. Swords represent the intellect, and I’m getting the feeling that the Queen of Swords reversed indicates that there’s a major mental block of some kind that’s getting in the team’s way. I’m not sure if this is an indication of lack of playoff experience for key individuals, but it seems to indicate a team experience level that may not quite be where it should be. This team has been through quite the wringer the past couple of months just to make it this far, but this may indicate, yet again, that that might not be enough. The mental game that has worked so far may be insufficient for a sustained playoff run. The playoffs are a whole different mind-set. Incisive thought turned back on itself, is what I’m getting. Watch out for psych-outs by the Flyers. Beware of mind games out there on the ice.

Card 8: Outside Influences. 7 of Pentacles. Key phrase for this card: “Earthly Wisdom.” This feels like a reference to Bruce Boudreau, who’s won championships at practically every level he’s coached. This is good news, as it seems to indicate that Coach Boudreau has the wisdom to match the X’s and O’s, knows how to out-psych the psych-outs, and will be a decisive leader behind the bench. What I’m reading here is that despite all the other obstacles I see on this layout, that Coach Boudreau will know how to handle them, and turn them to the Caps’ advantage. He’s going to be our trump card in this series. His wisdom will be a major factor in the outcome of this series.

Card 9: Hopes and Fears. The Empress. Not bad at all! The Empress, in layman’s terms, represents a very “Mom” kind of energy. And you know how, when you’re young, if something goes wrong, a loving Mom is always there to reassure you that everything’s all right, and that no trial lasts forever? That’s kind of the energy of The Empress. Very nurturing, very loving, very optimistic, very hpoeful that her kid will turn out for the better. I read this as an indication that, should this series take a sour turn, that there will be loving emotional support from the Divine for everyone–players and fans alike–to fall back on. Despite using an angel-themed deck, I don’t often mention the role that I see the angels playing in a question. Here, though, the indication is loud and clear: if trouble comes in this series, look inward, look upward, and know that Help is just a prayer away.

Card 10: Outcome. 6 of Wands, reversed. Talk about an inconclusive conclusion! The 6 of Wands Reversed tends to indicate a bit of a struggle, but a struggle that can still be won. It will not be an easy struggle, but it is winnable. When I take the entire gestalt of this layout into consideration, what this reversed 6 tells me is that this will be an epic series, one way or the other. It will be hard-fought; it will be physical (three Pentacles on the layout); and either team could win based on where things stand right now. This will be a competitive series, and that’s probably why I’m being given such a “wait and see” type of card for the outcome. I think that if the Caps realize that the playoffs require a different approach from the way they got there, that they’ll do just fine. The Flyers are going to throw their weight around, and may try to sucker the Caps into doing something foolish. However, with a proven leader behind the bench, such shenanigans may not be enough for the Flyers to win. And if the Caps learn the right lessons from their end-of-season run, this reversed 6 may turn face-up. And a face-up 6 of Wands tends to indicate victory.

Final thoughts: It’s going to be an ugly series, but we all knew that already. This one could go either way; neither victory nor defeat looks more probable than the other right now. However, the Caps do know how to win hockey games, and given their coaching, they have a good chance at success. A sweep doesn’t appear likely given this layout, but I think that the Caps should win the series after adjusting to playoff hockey for a game or two. But whatever lessons need to be learned, need to be learned quickly. If not, this miracle season may not survive the first round.

My prediction: Capitals in 5.

CAPITAL SPIRIT
PLAYOFFS, BABY!