Caps Game more photos

Was a great game--all you could want: hat trick by a defenseman (#6 Dennis Wideman), Ovechkin was on fire, a few fights, and Toronto played tough.  Some more up and close.   Seems like every NHL game I go there there is at least one Boston Bruins fan.  Here there were 2.  What's with that?

 Sat by the sticks.  This is Vokuoun's.  The longest stick belonged to forward Joel Ward--much longer than the rest.  Usually defensemen have the long sticks.  He changed them often.  Not sure why players change one good stick for another.  Asked the trainers and they just shrugged.  Wonder if these carbon fiber sticks break down after a lot of play and they change them to prevent that?

 Got to do a fist bump with #8 Alex Ovechkin!

 So this is what it is like if they let a fan sit with the players,, hey I was as close as you could get! I noticed that the trainers always had a towel in their hand and when play went by the bench they would shield their face with the towel.  Wondered about that then saw the bruise one trainer had on his face--later told me they get hit all the time with pucks. I started to duck as well--I was right there with them.

 Every player made it a point to hit this kid's hand.  He was a son of one of the team doctors.

 Ovechkin would sit on the side closest to the opponents goal so he could get out faster, rarely sat, sometimes sat on the edge so he could jump in faster.

 The defenseman Wideman had a hat trick.  He sat on the side closest to the Caps goal.

 Was right there for celebrations after goals---cool!