Don't Stop... Believing!

Yeah, I know, that song sucks ass, but for some reason the kids on the Caps have adopted it as their theme music for the season.

After last nights super thrilling 4-1 win over Carolina I'm willing to not say that to their faces.

2 Games left, tied for 1st place. TIED for 1st! In case you missed it we were dead last in October and managed to climb to 14th by Novemeber before Glen Hanlon was tossed out for Bruce Boudreau. Since then things have been golden.

Last night's game wasn't just about Ovechkin, sure he scored a sweet goal to ice the game but Matt Cooke played his ass off. Brooks Laich continued his outstanding season by going forhand to backhand on a sweet pass from Tomas Fleischmann. Old man Fedorov with 2 assists, budding superstar Mike Green 2 assists and Christobal Huet being clutch when he had to be.

In short it was a total team vicorty.

Consider this, who was it who opened the game with a big hit at mid ice? That would be the Russian sniper Alexander Semin, not exactly known as a physical force across the league.

And who rushed to his goalie's defense when Eric Staal took an extra whack with his stick? Ovechkin.

The Caps were fired up and played the most complete team game I've seen in a while. And they picked the perfect night to do it. In a packed house that was a sea of red and louder than I've heard them in years. Sadly, I wasn't in attendance. BUt I'll be there when the puck drops on Saturday.

Tonight Carolina play Tampa Bay, in a game they were hoping wouldn't matter. Now it matter more than they thought possible.

Reality check time - We havn't won anything yet. Two games to go and a lot can still happen but I'm optimistic, hope is alive in DC and we're painting this town red wheather they know it or not.
Oh and I by the way, Carolina head coach Peter Laviolette's explosion on the bench was hysterical. I don't care if he had a point or not.