CAPS PLAYERS AND FANS TAKE THE CLASSIC BY STORM

FINAL SCORE: CAPITALS 3- PENGUINS 1

W: Varlamov

L: Fluery

Goals: Was- Knuble (Backstrom, Green), Fehr (Johansson), Fehr (Chimera)

Pit- Malkin (Letang, Fluery)

DC HOCKEY SPOT RECAP

Every regular season win counts the same, 2 points in the standings. This one sure felt like it was worth more than that. DC Hockey Spot witnessed the Capitals defeat the Penguins in person at the 2011 Winter Classic at Heinz Field (although at times it felt like a neutral site game). In a game billed as a match up between the two greatest players in the world, the outcome was determined by the lesser players. Varlamov was stellar all game and the defense managed to neutralize the favorite to win the MVP Award, Sidney Crosby. Eric Fehr scored the game winner on a puck handling gaff by Marc-Andre Fluery and added another on a breakaway in a wet and sloppy 3rd period to send the 25,000+ Caps fans in attendance into an overpowering "C-A-P-S CAPS CAPS CAPS".

HIGHLIGHTS, LOWLIGHTS, AND TIDBITS

MVP: Varly got it from the NHL Media, but I am going to give it to Eric Fehr. He had been in a slump pretty much all season, but seemed to break out in a big way last night. He easily could have had the hat trick if he had buried a wrap around early in the 2nd. And this breakaway reminded Cap fans of what the Great 8 use to be.....

Highlight of the Game: Pretty much the whole event. I was there and it was pretty incredible. 70,000 hockey hanging out all day for a classic rivalry under the lights? What can beat that. And to top it off, the Capitals go home victorious.

Lowlight of the Game: Ovechkin missing on a breakaway and then again on a turnover and then not hustling back on D, resulting in the Malkin strike. Really do not know what is wrong with him

Revelation of the Night: Maybe the Capitals can play playoff hockey. While this game was unique with the terrible ice and the rain, the Capitals played a physical and defensive minded game that is needed in the playoffs. In fact, the best line of the night might well have been the 4th line with Steckel, Beagle, and Hendricks.

Disappointment of the Night: The quality of the ice all game and the rain in the 3rd. It would have been nice to have a more clean 3rd to really bring the intensity level up, but again, hard to find anything to complain about. On a side note, the second Fehr goal was both awesome and huge as it put to rest the two excuses for Pens fans; that the Caps won on a soft goal and that they did not have to try and score on the bad ice(since they did).

Surprise of the Night: Penguin fans, for the most part, are not that bad. There were the occasional "Cup" chants and Semin jokes, but most were almost cool. Shout out to the guy sitting next to me, whoever he was. He was pretty damn cool.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While the win in Pittsburgh under the lights on national TV might well have been one of the biggest in the regular season in Capitals history, an equally big story was the way Capital fans turned the tables on Pittsburgh. For years, US Air and MCI/Verizon had been a home away from home for Penguin fans. While the infestation in DC has ended over the last few years I am pretty sure Capital fans have never traveled like they did this weekend. 25,000+ made the trek to Pittsburgh and were insane throughout, starting with the "RED" chant during the anthem (and a note to DC fans, stop yelling "O". It is for the Orioles. We have the Nationals). The "C-A-P-S" cheer was at times louder than the "Let's Go Pen's" chant and it seemed the players noticed. Many mentioned that they heard us after each goal (and how could they not hear 25,000). And every rest stop along the way home from Pittsburgh on the god awful PA Turnpike was swarming with Caps fans. It was pretty fucking cool.