In one paragraph, here’s all you need to know from today’s matinee: The Caps lost 4-1, with Marcus Johansson netting the lone goal for Washington. Brooks Laich took what looked like a very gnarly knee-on-knee hit with Dennis Seidenberg and left the game early. Laich has been reported as day-to-day and will be further evaluated tomorrow. He was seen leaving Verizon Center on crutches. Dmitry Orlov, after taking a second puck to the face in as many games, is reportedly as okay as one can be after getting hit with a puck. According to Dale Hunter, he had to leave the game because his eyes were watering too much for him to play.
With Keith Aucoin still in D.C. from the AHL’s Hershey Bears, the Caps now have three New England natives technically on the roster (yes, we’re counting Tom Poti who, despite being MIA in hockey, is still alive). Here’s who some of the guys are rooting for:
Aucoin is a Patriots fan, and is excited to be able to share the fanhood with fellow New Englander-ish, John Carlson.
“All the guys are getting together to watch the game so it’ll be nice to have another New England guy that’s rooting for the Patriots,” Aucoin said. “I’m sure everyone else is rooting for the Giants. It’ll be an exciting game no matter what, though.”
Aucoin is also hoping to leave his mark on the team by turning a couple players his way. “I brought some Patriots gear, so I’m hoping I can get a couple guys to root for them with us,” he said.
Karl Alzner, who’s Canadian and doesn’t have a specific preference is apparently hoping to be the team’s pot stirrer.
“I don’t really have a team so I just want to see a good football game,” he said. “I want to have fun watching it, but whatever the majority of the team is, I want to go the opposite. I want to win and have the other guys be upset that their team lost.”
However, upon hearing that D-partner and BFFL Carlson was a Pats fan, Alzner changed his mind. “I’ll go with the Giants then,” he said.
While it sounds like everyone else is for the Giants, there was at least one more defenseman who was for the Patriots.
“Yeah, I love the Pats,” Dennis Wideman said. “You can’t bet against [Bill] Belichick and [Tom] Brady.”
And even though it probably won’t sit well with Caps fans after today’s loss, Wideman’s been true to Boston since his days with the Bruins. “Ever since I’ve been to Boston I’ve been a Pats and Red Sox fan,” he said.
