Outside Verizon Center before the game. (Photos by Caps Outsider)
Diehard Caps fans braved the elements to attend a matinee at the Verizon Center Saturday to see the Caps take on the New York Islanders. Although attendance seemed to be down at bit, the bitter cold, snow, ice and a Metrorail incident that created a lengthy delay for Red Line riders couldn’t keep most fans away. It was cold outside, but the Caps were hot.
Avid fans Beyhan Ibici and Amanda Brown of Silver Spring, MD didn’t let a snowstorm and Metro inconsistencies get in their way. They were determined to see their Caps.
“We are big Caps fans,” said Brown. “We come out snow, rain or shine.”
“It seemed like it was going to be a good game and we’re coming back on Wednesday, but we wanted to try to fit two in a week,” said Ibici. ” But the Metro was horrible!”
“It took us over an hour and a half to get here from Silver Spring,” Brown added.
Ryan Connifey and Kristin Kaminski drove from Herndon, VA in some really rough weather to see the Caps.
“This was his Valentine’s Day gift from me,” explained Kaminski.
“So, we were obligated one way or another to come out,” Connifey said.
Did the happy couple have a tough time driving to the arena?
“Just a little bit,” Kaminski laughed sarcastically.
“The roads were not great,” Connifey added. “It took us about an hour and 15 minutes to get here.”
“We saw a lot of people getting stuck on the roads,” said Kaminski.
With all of the Metro delays and poor road conditions, many fans missed most of the first period. Fortunately, they were in their seats to see Matt Niskanen, the game’s Honest Abe recipient, score the Caps’ first goal of the game at the end of the first period.
The Caps went on to beat the Metropolitan Divisions leaders in a shootout, 3-2. After the game, Coach Barry Trotz spoke about the game as fans warmed by the win trudged back out into the snow to head home.
“We have been a lot more patient. Instead of changing it up when we’re down a goal, we just keep to our plan and doing what we do. We just keep ‘pounding the rock’ and it’s working,” said Trotz.
