C-A-P-S Caps! Caps! Caps!

Joe's in Ocean City for a little father-son bonding weekend, so I had the TV to myself this evening. Ah! So much from which to choose! Plenty of chick flicks, BritComs on PBS, the all Law and Order all the time channel, and... the hockey game -- the Capitals home opener.

I was so disappointed when my Caps lost their opening game to the Rangers, especially because goddamn Jaromir Jagr scored 29 seconds into the first period.

See, Jagr used to be a Cap, but he basically did jackshit because he didn't give a rat's ass about being on the team. He's even admitted it! So I do not like him much.

I will admit that I was apprehensive about tonight's home opener against the Carolina Hurricanes; after all, they're the Stanley Cup champions. Cam Ward is a helluva goalie; Rod Brind'Amour can set the ice on fire with his skates. And the rest of the team ain't too shabby either.

I do not like any of them much either, to tell the truth.

But boy, I do love to watch the game. It's So. FAST. The skating is amazing -- unlike figure skating, the emphasis is not on tricks or presentation. It's effortless, it's second nature, it's all about the game, not the skating, but it's all about the skating -- oh hell, I don't know! I just know I love watching the players zoom down the ice, stop on a dime, turn in circles -- and that's the backward skating!

And I admit it. I love the physical-ness of the game. And by physical-ness, I am talking about the hits. I suppose it satisfies my blood lust. But yeah, this peacenik pacifist loves a good, hard, clean check.

Anyway.

I didn't watch the first period; I was too nervous. Besides, I was catching up on my chick flicks and Jerry Maguire was on. (I watched Walk the Line earlier, so there.) But I checked at first period intermission and the Caps were leading, 1-0. Woo! A miracle on ice! Back to the movie. Or USA. They were running the SVU marathon and I can always use a little sip of Ice T.

I flipped back midway through the second period and -- oh hell! -- the 'Canes were up 2-1. I couldn't watch. Back to chicks flicks and murder.

But I couldn't resist, and I flipped back again, only to find that it was the second intermission. More importantly, the game was tied 2-2, thanks to Alexander Semin. You know, I think I like young Mr. Semin. So I steeled myself against possible heartbreak and watched the third period.

And my boys did not let me down. No -- Calder Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin knocked the puck past Cam Ward and the Caps took the lead. They scored again -- or rather, Ovi scored again -- to add a little insurance to the scoreboard. But then! The other Alex (Semin) scored his hat trick, to put the icing (so to speak) on the cake.

C-A-P-S caps! Caps! CAPS!