After a dismal second period that saw the Washington Capitals get outshot 18-5 and trailing 3-2, the Capitals showed heart and resiliency in the third period. Thanks to a big go-ahead goal by Jakub Vrana, the Capitals won 6-3 now head to Pittsburgh with a 3-2 series lead. When the final horn sounded fans flooded the streets and took over the steps of the National Portrait Gallery across the street from Capital One Arena.
This gathering spot is popular for the Penguins fans whenever they win in Washington but on Saturday night the steps were full of red instead of black and gold. Fans were chanting “Let’s go Caps!” and “One more game!”.
(Via @blakesdad2)
@NoVa_Caps Mayheim !!!! pic.twitter.com/128FTchizo
— Brian (@blakesdad2) May 6, 2018
Even Michael Jenkins of NBC Sports Washington got in on the fun!
(Via @LyNZie_Flo)
@JenksNBCS IS ALL CAPS FANS RN 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/ZNLluQKVvl
— ℓįи∂ѕäу fℓσωęяš ♕ (@LyNZiE_Flo) May 6, 2018
If you look close enough in this video below, you can spot a “Terrible Towel” on fire.
OUTSIDE CAPITAL ONE ARENA: @NoVa_Caps @russianmachine #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/R1C4DA7bTl
— Vanessa Janet (@capsaddict) May 6, 2018
Fans also were chanting “Crosby sucks!”
(Via @AGazes269)
— Amy Gazes (@AGazes269) May 6, 2018
Caps fans had gone through a lot for the last several years but Saturday night was their night. It was their night to celebrate, to soak in a big win over their hated rivals, and their night to show the hockey world what rocking the red is all about.
I love this fan base🏒❤
@NoVa_Caps #AllCaps pic.twitter.com/1hy89SHAk1— Vanessa Janet (@capsaddict) May 6, 2018
After the game, Capitals head coach Barry Trotz had great words for the crowd and the atmosphere on Saturday night.
“We need the fans to get behind us,” Trotz said. “We gave them something to cheer about early in the third and they got behind us and gave us some energy… That’s what you need from your crowd. You don’t need the negative. You need the positive to push it forward. That was really good on their part tonight.”
The fans got behind them Saturday night and it helped will the Caps to a win. The crowd on Monday night in Pittsburgh will be intimidating and hostile but the Caps can overcome this by simply thinking about those fans in the DC-area who will be looking on and supporting them from afar, hoping their boys can defeat the Penguins in a playoff series once and for all.
By Michael Marzzacco
Follow @marswaggo
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