It's Finally Here!!!!!!!!!11
by Ben Rothenberg on Apr 7, 2010 11:30 AM EDT
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I know what you're thinking--this 10-disc box set of the Washington Capitals greatest games is overdue!
With all those great Capitals triumphs over the years, how difficult must it have been to whittle the pride and tradition of the franchise down to only ten games? To make that selection process a little easier, the creators of this keepsake item wisely decided to ignore the first fourteen years of the franchise altogether. Everyone knows the first third of a franchise's lifespan is for rebuilding, anyhow.
The Capitals are, by my count, the eighth team to be immortalized with one of these "Greatest Games" box sets, ahead of such lowly franchises as the Colorado Avalanche, New Jersey Devils, and Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings may have eleven Stanley Cups, but the Caps beat them to getting a ten-disc set! Time to transfer the title of "Hockeytown" to DC once and for all, I say!
The set includes only one game from the team's lone run to the Stanley Cup finals in 1998, but includes a full SEVEN games in the Ovechkin Era, a period of time which has changed all of our lives immeasurably.
I know, I know -- 8 with Ovechkin would have been far more appropriate. But Ovechkin's name does appear in the sentence-long descriptions of three of the games, which, while fewer than the number of games he missed due to suspension this season, is still an awesomely large amount.
If you're newer to hockey and think that the Capitals have been "Rocking the Red" since 1975, and the idea of the Capitals wearing anything but those current uniforms you've already bought twelve of (including a Leonhardt jersey you spent $400 customizing and three Ovechkins: one red, one white, and one in Cyrillic -- Овечкин FTW!) is too daunting, fear not! Six of the ten games are with the team wearing its current jerseys, the ones that date all the way back to 2007. There's even a regular season game against the Panthers! Not the one from November of 2007 with attendance of 10,526, though...
If 2007 is still too far back into Capitals history for you to reminisce about, know that two of the ten games are from the 2009 Playoffs. Yes, that illustrious post-season campaign that saw the Capitals defeat the #7 seed late in Game 7 to win a playoff series for the first time in eleven years. If that doesn't represent the pinnacle of sporting achievement, I don't know what does.
We both already know you're buying the thing, so you'd might as well move quick! The set only came out two weeks ago, but someone is already selling a used copy, which is clearly an indication that demand is high. So order yours today!
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Heh.
Firing up the hate machine in hopes of a first-round match-up?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
No thanks.
We’d rather face NJ in the first round.
Thanks for beating up on Pittsburgh, by the way. Much appreciated.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
No, New Jersey is facing Montreal
Cheers, Complaints, homerism and bashing of mediocre pop musicians in 140 Characters
"DO NOT get stuck behind Kyle Wellwood in the buffet line. This isn't really etiquette, but it will prevent you from starving to death"- Down Goes Brown on Etiquette for Jason Spezza's wedding
by Kevin Sellathamby on Apr 7, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Haha, hindsight.
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by Travis Hughes on Dec 22, 2010 9:01 PM EST up reply actions
hahaha, This. Is. Awesome.
May I say I particularly enjoyed the two "1"s after the exclamation points. Also, this:
Six of the ten games are with the team wearing its current jerseys, the ones that date all the way back to 2007.
Good times.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 7, 2010 11:39 AM EDT reply actions
On the substance, us Caps faithful (who were even fans back in 2005-06!) agree that it’s way too Boudreau-era heavy.
But it’s got something for you guys – Dale Hunter’s breakaway on Ron Hextall in Game 7’s OT. Enjoy!
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Apr 7, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Does it also have Dale Hunter’s breakaway on Chris Osgood in the Finals?
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 7, 2010 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
/butts in out of Hunter hate
Or Hunter’s courageous display of sportsmanship in 1993! Remember kids, if your turnover just handed the opponent’s star the series-sealing goal, you can always attack him during the goal celebration.
Lighthouse Hockey: What's wrong with lotteries? I've been in lots of lotteries.
by Dominik on Apr 7, 2010 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
That’s leadership!
A pretty girl is like a violent crime.
by Rob Parker on Apr 7, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
That was the game where Doug Crossman quit the Flyers, literally. He was sick of playing for Mike Keenan and didn’t even try to catch up to Hunter.
No highlights from Pete Peeters’ stellar performance in the 1989 Conference Quarterfinals, where the series-winning goal was a Rick Tocchet centering pass which went in off the back of Pete’s skate?
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
No highlights from Pete Peeters’ stellar performance in the 1989 Conference Quarterfinals, where the series-winning goal was a Rick Tocchet centering pass which went in off the back of Pete’s skate?
Oh for Pete’s sake, you had to bring that one up and re-open an old wound didn’t you?
The long, lost Prodigal_Son has returned from exile! I had abandoned all hope and surely thought he'd join the Pittsburgh flock of flightless fowl after 14 years in the wilderness ...Ladies and Gentlemen, let us celebrate!
does it have lupul’s goal?
Eat what the monkey eats, then eat the monkey. -U.S. Navy survival guidance
When I go to Caps games, I usually go with one of the new Caps jerseys. My buddy rocks the old Blue jersey, although he does have a black one that he wears occasionally. His daughter wears the black one and my son wears his Ovie jersey. We look totally mismatched. =)
Times like this makes me wish my signed Craig Berube jersey fit me. =( Damn those youth larges….
I can read the future, while lesser men read comic books.
It’s rare to see an old jersey in the Verizon Center. I liked having 20% Flyers fans in there a few years ago.
By “old” do you mean the most recent ones prior to the current or the old red, white and blues? If the former, it’s probably because the colors no longer are the team’s colors… why would you wear a black jersey when everyone else is in red?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
That is a good point. But I would just so that I didn’t get lumped in with the bandwagoners. And that’s not even a dig at you guys, that’s me liking the blue ones and hating any bandwagon fans.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 7, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I never liked the blue ones. I liked the originals.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
I was also 10 when they came out…
Didn’t like other two from that set, but I still like the blue ones.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 7, 2010 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Point taken, but there’s hardly anyone with old colors. At other arenas there’s usually a few throwbacks like Bondra or Hunter would be for the Caps.
There’s a guy in my section with a Peeters jersey, another with a Bondra one and a Gustafsson wandering around. My dad has an old school Tinordi jersey. And there was a fan at the Pens game wearing a Bugsy Watson sweater – by far my favorite random sighting :)
Bugsy Watson sweater – by far my favorite random sighting
Hear, Hear! Brian Bugsy Watson FTW! That guy still looks like he can RIP my head off every time I go to Bugsy’s to grab some eats for lunch during the workweek. Great guy though …
The long, lost Prodigal_Son has returned from exile! I had abandoned all hope and surely thought he'd join the Pittsburgh flock of flightless fowl after 14 years in the wilderness ...Ladies and Gentlemen, let us celebrate!
the fans are instructed to “rock the red,” though. i’ve considered wearing my black jersey a few times, but always reconsider.
by Natty Bumppo on Apr 7, 2010 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
they’re tougher to get a hold of…but that won’t be a problem after next season’s winter classic.
by Natty Bumppo on Apr 7, 2010 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
+100, good work Ben, biting sarchasm and feigned mockery.
Managing Editor - HockeyOutsiders.com
by HockeyOutsiders on Apr 7, 2010 11:50 AM EDT reply actions
I bet most Caps fans would get this question wrong.
Which of the following teams has Jaromir Jagr played for?
A – New York Rangers
B – Pittsburg Penguins
C – Washington Capitals
D – All of the Above
Heh, those of us enough to hate Jagr know his history pretty decently as well
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
by red army line on Apr 7, 2010 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
*old enough
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
by red army line on Apr 7, 2010 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Question
Could you define the word “Play” so I can answer this question correctly.
by boknows71 on Apr 7, 2010 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
fuel to fire
I own the Flyers box set to it does a great job of capturing all the era’s but they should release and addendum with the 2008 Flyers Capitals Round 1 Game 7. To remind Caps fans the game where Lupul scored the Series Winner in OT in front a Red Rocking Verizon Center.
Hey, what’s wrong with a little cash grab while the brand is hot?
By the way, be sure to purchase your NEW Pittsburgh Penguins 3rd jersey this summer!
"Don't matter who did what to who at this point. Fact is, we went to war and there ain't no turnin' back. I mean, s---, it's what war is, you know? Once you in it, you in it. If it's a lie, then we fight on that lie. But we gotta fight."
haha, I can’t wait. Will this one be yellow (not gold)? What about pink?
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 7, 2010 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Why?!?!?!?! Why are so many teams going with the “blue” thing. Blue is not a team color for Pitt and I don’t believe it ever has been! (correct if I’m wrong). I just don’t get it…
"Chris Pronger sneaked in the back door...banged it home."
Flyers Television Play-by-Play Man: Jim Jackson
Their current third jersey (or something similar) was used from 68-72 according to Wikipedia.
But the new Panthers third is hideous. And it makes the goalie’s pads look awful:
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 7, 2010 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Florida looks like they should be playing for the Maine Black Bears or something.
Speaking of, who wins a 7 games series the Panthers or Maine?
"Don't matter who did what to who at this point. Fact is, we went to war and there ain't no turnin' back. I mean, s---, it's what war is, you know? Once you in it, you in it. If it's a lie, then we fight on that lie. But we gotta fight."
Is Keith Ballard a scratch? If so, Panthers. If not, Vokoun probably gets suspended for killing Ballard and then Maine wins.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 7, 2010 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Speaking of scratches/injuries, as I was leaving the game last night through the player entrance (my boss is a season ticket owner) in came David Booth and talked to my boss and I for a minute. He just sat there the whole time starring at my Flyers hoodie I was wearing. Gave me a good laugh. I also wanted to try poking him in the head to see if it would give him a concussion!
"Chris Pronger sneaked in the back door...banged it home."
Flyers Television Play-by-Play Man: Jim Jackson
haha, that’s awful. I hope you weren’t sitting there laughing at him while he was talking. Laughing at his angry stare is funny though.
I do seriously feel bad for the guy though. But do want to make a joke: I should get him to sign my Lindros jersey and say he’s my new favorite player.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 7, 2010 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Hahaha, that would be awesome. I wasn’t actually laughing in his face, just after I walked away. But I agree with you, he’s a really nice guy and I hope the best for him and really do feel bad. I held myself back from also telling him to keep his head up, felt like he might take offense to that.
"Chris Pronger sneaked in the back door...banged it home."
Flyers Television Play-by-Play Man: Jim Jackson
haha, very nice.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 7, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Not necessarily that shade, but blue was most certainly a team color in the past for Pitt. They say they chose to change their colors to match the other teams, but I’m pretty sure the city leaned on them pretty hard to do it.
NHL.com – Penguins Uniform History
by DragonGirl0583 on Apr 7, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
They say they chose to change their colors to match the other teams, but I’m pretty sure the city leaned on them pretty hard to do it.
When they made the change it ws to be more like the Pirates and Steelers who were winning world championships left and right in the late ’70s (yep, those Pirates!).
That was pre-Mario days when the Pens were hardly the hottest ticket in town, so it made sense to align themselves with the popular, and successful, other colors.
"Don't matter who did what to who at this point. Fact is, we went to war and there ain't no turnin' back. I mean, s---, it's what war is, you know? Once you in it, you in it. If it's a lie, then we fight on that lie. But we gotta fight."
I didn’t necessarily say that the Penguins were against it, I’m just pretty sure I read somewhere that the city definitely influenced the decision. I didn’t state that part as fact though because I don’t have a source for it.
by DragonGirl0583 on Apr 7, 2010 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Gotcha. I don’t know of any politics, but I do know the Pens had more than enough reason to want to wear black-and-gold and earn any amount of respect from fans that they could get.
"Don't matter who did what to who at this point. Fact is, we went to war and there ain't no turnin' back. I mean, s---, it's what war is, you know? Once you in it, you in it. If it's a lie, then we fight on that lie. But we gotta fight."
Okay, thanks for the updates on this one. I had this feeling that they used to be blue, but I honestly couldn’t remember and absolutely hate it with a passion.
And yes Geoff, the Panthers third is HORRIBLE. I was at the first game they wore them and have seen them a couple other times while they were wearing them. And it almost seems like all of the 12 people that go to Panthers games had to buy one. But honestly, they are EVERYWHERE in that stadium, it’s sickening.
"Chris Pronger sneaked in the back door...banged it home."
Flyers Television Play-by-Play Man: Jim Jackson
I enjoy the logo – a little copy from the Wild’s homes – but the color scheme is just… ugh.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 7, 2010 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Everything Old is New Again
Are they bringing back the solid darker blue with the gold/black logo? Those were pretty slick. The color really stood out agains the ice.
Speaking of retro uniforms, anyone think the Flyers might go back to the black Cooper-alls? Those long pants were something else…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Apr 7, 2010 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions
They’re illegal, actually.
Broad Street Hockey - SBN's Philadelphia Flyers blog. Got goaltending? Searching since 1987.
by Travis Hughes on Apr 7, 2010 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions
…because they were dangerous. The Cooperalls provided less friction when a player fell to the ice creating some dangerous situations along the boards. Can you imagine if players today wore Cooperalls? Besides how ugly they would all look, they would all be dead after falling and sliding head first into the boards after racing for an icing touch up. Yikes.
@Mitchman88 on Twitter
by Mitchell Green on Apr 8, 2010 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions
and what the elephantitis of the calves with kinickers you look like you just crapped pants ensemble is any better. Hockey get up is so “i can’’t get up, I can’t move my arms Ralphie” X-Mas Story snowsuit. Hands down the worst get-up in all sports. I can understand why guys didn’t want to were those helmets…the goalies have it the worst they look like they are wearing Transformers Halloween costumes..,. Great sport, but i suppose form follows function but looks wise, utter fail in the uniform department.
I can already hear the rhetoric coming out of the new Soviet Union (aka the Capitals fan base)
“look at that, typical Philly fans, taking a cheap shot at the team that won the presidents trophy when their team may miss the playoffs”.
they’re not necessarily wrong, but releasing a box set with 7 games from the last three years when the team hasn’t won or even been to the cup finals in that period? lame. The team was garbage for so long I guess they just couldn’t wait to finally pretend to be a “storied” franchise.
they’re not necessarily wrong, but releasing a box set with 7 games from the last three years when the team hasn’t won or even been to the cup finals in that period? lame.
My impression that is was the NHL, rather than the teams, who were producing and marketing these sets (though obviously with help from the teams). My impression was that the league wanted to try and maximize sales while interest in the team was high – and open themselves up to the option of offering a new box set if this year’s team does well.
Oh most certainly. I guess I just have a negative view of Washington fans stemming from the whole bandwagon thing, as well as the fact that I dated a psychotic washington fan my freshmen year and during the playoff series that year their newspaper and commentators called us philly fans something like “vicious animals cheering on our blood thirsty cage fighters” or whatever it was.
That being said all the Washington fans that I’ve come across on SBnation have been very rational and well educated. I Hate the capitals for the same reason I hate Duke, the Yankees, the Lakers, etc. their just too damn good right now. We all have our irrational, angst ridden biases against teams/players. I’m just not afraid to admit my own.
The team hints that their archiving mechanisms were teh suck and I’m liable to give them a pass on it to a degree (why include a Pens playoff game when they lost the series?).
The Chicago set is a bigger pile of suck. Want to see Mikita, Hull and Esposito(‘s retirement ceremonies?) You’re in luck!
"I’d like to take the credit but dig mama, there’s no "I" in "revolut" …in "team."
Flyers box set that came out a few years ago included game 6 of the 2004 ECF, and we lost that series.
Still doesn’t mean it wasn’t one of the Flyers greatest games
I was at that game and it was awesome, last game at Wachovia Center before the lockout. Also the Game 6 1987 Stanley Cup Final were Hextall stood on his head against Gretzkey’s Oilers. We lost that series too and yes Caps fans Gretzky played on the Oilers not the Coyotes even though he coached in Phoenix.
My impression was that the league wanted to try and maximize sales while interest in the team was high – and open themselves up to the option of offering a new box set if this year’s team does well.
Sure sounds like it. Otherwise, why not wait until after this posteason, when odds are there will be one or two worthy entries to add? Ah, but get this set out now and then, if luck will have it, they can devote an entire set to the 2010 postseason.
Lighthouse Hockey: What's wrong with lotteries? I've been in lots of lotteries.
These types of things tend to be in the works for a while. Timing of the release of just to Capital-ize (Really? Wow. Even i’m surprised I went there.) on the current position of the team wouldn’t factor in. Rather, they are banking on the general popularity of this generation of Capitals. It could have come out the middle of last season, for all the difference it makes to them.
The NHL realizes, like most smarter fans and RJ Umberger, that the second the Caps face a defensive team in the playoffs they are done.
The Dream is over, time to jump on the bandwagon, Lets Go SoundTigers! What is a SoundTiger anyway?
I think my snark-o-meter is recalibrated now
Thanks, Ben.
"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"
does this mean the pittsburg one only has Crosby and 2 back in the 90’s????
I wasn't even a year old but I stayed up to be outside the Vet with my Dad and Mom when the Phillies won the World Series 1980.
The opposite. There are only 2 games Crosby was in (the 6 point night against Philly in ‘06 and Malkin’s great goal against Brodeur in ‘06) that made the Pens DVD. If they re-did it in a few years I’m sure they could have had more.
"Don't matter who did what to who at this point. Fact is, we went to war and there ain't no turnin' back. I mean, s---, it's what war is, you know? Once you in it, you in it. If it's a lie, then we fight on that lie. But we gotta fight."
Yeah, I’m sure there’s a ton from 91-92, a ton from late 90s, early 00s.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 7, 2010 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Not to disrespect to the current team’s accomplishments (not this time, anyway), but I would think a lot of people would be quite angry if Lemieux’s contributions were drastically downplayed in favor of the current team. I’m guessing by which games you reference that the set came out a couple years ago, but even if it came out now I would still hope that it would be balanced and not be weighted like the one for the Capitals.
by DragonGirl0583 on Apr 7, 2010 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Trying to cash -in before the Redskins can climb back to 7-9 and 3/4 of the fanbase leaves the Caps.
by j reed on Apr 7, 2010 1:23 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
That will put the Redskins two games ahead of the Eagles.
by Moonage Daydream on Apr 8, 2010 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions
haha, hindsight.
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Broad Street Hockey - SBN's Philadelphia Flyers blog. 2010 Eastern Conference Champions.
by Travis Hughes on Dec 22, 2010 9:06 PM EST up reply actions
Playoffs
The Caps had some great teams in the mid-late 1980s and early 1990s. They just couldn’t do anything in the playoffs.
Some players I remember from then:
Bengt Gustafsson
Dino Ciccarelli
Kelly Miller
Mike Ridley
Michal Pivonka
Rod Langway
Pete Peeters
Don Beaupre
Scott Stevens
Dale Hunter
Calle Johansson
Kevin Hatcher
Dave Christian
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
And yeah, that was off the top of my head. I hated the Caps back then.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
Another game which should have been included
Game 73 on this list,, for realz.
The Flyers were down 6-2 or 6-3 heading into the 3rd period.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
Yeah the Caps of the ’80s were a tough-luck case: Almost always right near the top of the league, while always getting blocked in the Wales by the Isles, Flyers or Habs. It was unreal. Because they never made a final, some very good teams get forgotten.
Lighthouse Hockey: What's wrong with lotteries? I've been in lots of lotteries.
I am probably mistaken, but didn’t Kolzig basically carry the 98 team to the finals? And they manage only one game from that whole playoffs? insane.
The Dream is over, time to jump on the bandwagon, Lets Go SoundTigers! What is a SoundTiger anyway?
The Caps can have their silly box set. I will take our two Stanley Cups and the upcoming HBO special.
by LegionofDoom on Apr 7, 2010 10:00 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Did you see the trailer for that? It’s on the Flyers website now
by DragonGirl0583 on Apr 7, 2010 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions
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