Are these the same loyal fans who always complain about the lack of attention the Caps receive from the DC area? They finally get it and sell out the arena and they still complain? Get over it and let the city be proud of their new winner.

So Lindsay why did you find it necessary to go to today's game? You obviously don't know a hockey puck from a softball and needed to fill some space on your blog. The only reason I clicked on was because I thought that it had something to do with the ear-splitting crowd noise that we have generated in the playoff run. Do us all a favor and stay home.

I agree completely with Jay - Id rather have half a stadium full of old faithful than a bunch of metrosexuals looking for the next big trend.

Without research if you can tell me who Yvon Lebre, John Druce and Pete Peeters are you can hang around.

Lindsay,

As you may have noticed, this is a tough town to break into as a sports writer. You have a terrific job and as a person with a bachelors and masters in English, yet no employment directly related to my degrees, I can understand the jealousy and animosity in the posts. Keep on doing your thing, but a bit of advise: get a red jersey to avoid a verbal lashing from caps fans opposed to those hopping on the bandwagon late.

C'mon guys...cut them some slack. We all had to be introduced to the Caps at some point. Would you rather the building be filled with idiots in orange and black?

I've been a hockey fan my whole life and a Caps fan since I moved here 10 years ago.
I was glad to see the place not only packed, but loud on Friday. I welcome new fans and bandwagon jumpers because I'm confident that once they give it a chance they'll be hooked and become real fans.

If winning is what it takes to get people to their first game, then so be it. I've taken lots of friends to Caps games for their first time and they always want to come back.

Hockey has always had an uphill climb in DC. Most kids here don't have the opportunity to play it and so many of our residents are from somewhere else so either they come here with an NHL allegiance already formed, or they come from somewhere where hockey is hardly known.

But if hockey can succeed in Dallas and Anaheim (look at their attendance this year), it can succeed anywhere. If the owners give fans a reason to have faith - in the team - and Ted Leonsis has done that - the hockey fans will turn up and then they'll convert new fans.

Of course, when ownership loses the fans' trust, it doesn't matter how popular hockey is at the grass roots. Look at Boston and Chicago.

Being a long time Caps fans is not the same as loving an obscure Rock & Roll Band! I want hockey to rock in DC and if I can't get tickets for any other reason that doesn't involve the away team, then hockey in DC is working. What do I care if the person screaming next to me didn't know "The Druce Was (once) Loose" or that it was Dale Hunter that did in the Flyers in game 7 before they were born.

Lindsay, I too thought your article was about the fan noise in unison (not against each other) I wore the black jersey on Friday night and got one snear in Metro and that was it.

But if you haven't a clue, at least wear red to do something to bond with the crowd!

Like an earlier poster I also clicked on this because I thought it was about something else . . .that said:
1. As a long time fan and season ticket holder I for I am happy to see all the new fans. Its good for the team, its good for the city, and it makes the day (for you) a lot more fun.
2. Regarding the wearing red thing, the fact that you won't wear it says volumes. I think its sad that you can't let yourself go and really embrace the team. If you want to jump on the bandwagon, at least come dressed for the occassion.

And actually you do have something against it . .you think that being cool is still more important then being. It may be childish, it may have a heard mentality, but at the end of the dayn it allows you to make a bond with 20,000 random people. I hope one day you do allow yourself to experience the FULL experience

The reality is by not wearing red you will get plenty of nasty looks . . .that are earned and well deserved.

Lindsay-

It isn't much of a sacrifice to wear red. Get it done.

As a longtime season ticket holder, I am happy to see the new influx of fans, but only in the hopes that they continue their interest in the team next year. The Capitals are playing an exciting brand of hockey--perfect to generate a new legion of Capitals fans--and I think the time is ripe to move towards making DC a better market for hockey.

I was frankly amazed at how few black and orange jerseys there were in the stands on Friday night. Playoff games in the past here have been populated by at least 25% of people cheering for the opposition. The higher the demand for tickets from Caps fans, the less chance we'll see that in the future.

Make it easy on yourself, wear red. Show that you're willing to support the team and rally behind them. Don't ask aimless questions, be direct and sound like you know what you're talking about. Caps fans here, even those who people are saying are jumping on the bandwagon, are still knowledgeable.

I didn't have season tickets the last three seasons, but I struggled with the team when I could actually go to the games and watch them on TV. My job prevented me from getting to all the games and my income prevented me from buying a lot of tickets, but I did notice a lot of hockey people in the same situation I'm in that were at the playoff game.

Don't discount and say these are bandwagon jumpers, there are other circumstances as to why someone can't make a mid-October game against the Islanders. There are enough reasons, not excuses. Now people are pushing aside those other reasons because of the urgency.

I suppose you really shouldn't be wearing red since you're only jumping on the media bandwagon and not the team bandwagon.

For the other bandwagoners that will actually be watching the game:

1. Don't leave or enter your seat while the puck is in motion. Hockey is fast paced and requires constant attention from the fans, don't break that concentration.

2. Those in the upper bowl (400's), don't lean forward, you end up obstructing the view of those behind you.

3. There will be swearing and chants of "Flyers Suck". If you find this objectionable, stay home

4. Please refrain from shouting "Shoot the puck" every time someone has posession, you'll just look like a tool

Tired of all those bandwagon fans? Try coming out to a Nats game. It'll be years before any casual fans even come sniffing around this team!

Take Metro!

The first poster, ForeverCapsFan, is exactly right. Some people complain and complain about the lack of attention the Caps get from the local media and other team's fans filling up the VC, but when they finally get that attention and the Booth is filled with Caps fans, they tell them to "stay away" and call them bandwagon jumpers.

Look, the team was horrendous the past five years. I know, I was there - a lot. Now they are in the playoffs, with the best player in the league, a core of exciting young talent - and you are going to still find time to tear down people who are excited about it? I feel like I'm being rewarded for my dedication over the past 5 years, but that doesn't mean I want people who weren't there to "stay away". Get over yourselves.

Finally, I don't think I'd do very well on your quiz, John. I've never heard of Yvon Lebre. I know who Yvon Labre is (for the newbies - scored first home goal in Caps history, Captain for a few seasons, first player to have his number - 7 - retired by the Caps). If you are going to try to be smug and superior to the new fans by demonstrating your Caps "knowledge" because you are such a big fan, the least you can do is spell the man's name correctly.

Flyers Suck.

Would it kill you to wear red?

Let me guess: you moved here from Pittsburgh.

While I agree that wearing red would be a smart idea (other media types are wearing it, like Lindsay Czarniak and Lisa Hillary), I wonder how many of these attacks would be different if Ms. Applebaum wasn't a female...

Caps fans have a problem with media bandwagoners who want to pretend they know something about the game but end up with mistakes throughout their articles. If they're going to take the time to write an article, do the research necessary to write a complete, well-informed article.

We also have problems with those who write articles about the team, and still make fun of hockey, the Caps past playoff history, how basketball and football are so much better, etc. If you don't like the sport, don't agree to write an article about it.

Go Caps. See you at game 5.

MR Warehouse, great posts!!!! I too hate it when these "Casual Fans" don't know the proper hockey etiquette when going to a game and get even more upset when you try to be polite to some of these creeps and they get all offended and start cussing at you. Luckily for the most part Verizon Center is a great place for Hockey and its great to see it packed with Caps fans from everywhere and anywhere!