(photo by Jim McIsaac)
Last night, the Washington Capitals cruised to an impressive 5-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks for their eighth-consecutive win and improved to 11-1 since Alex Ovechkin was named captain.
This is noteworthy because the last time the Washington Capitals won eight games in a row was way back in March of 1989.
Read that again and think about just how long it’s been. Seriously, a kid born that month can legally drink this year.
During that streak, the Caps feasted on teams such as the Winnipeg Jets, Hartford Whalers and Pittsburgh Penguins – all teams that have since drifted away to obscurity.
Although forwards Mike Ridley and Geoff Courtnall each finished the season with 40 goals, the strength of that Capitals squad was a defensive rotation featuring Rod Langway, Scott Stevens, Kevin Hatcher and Larry Murphy (no relation). You’d be hard pressed to find a better blueline.
Rain Man won the Academy Award for best picture. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin earned album of the year at the Grammy Awards. Milli Vanilli had just released “Girl You Know It’s True.” People thought the New Kids On The Block actually had talent.
Seinfeld and the Sega Genesis didn’t exist yet, and Grunge was just taking off. Slap bracelets were still awesome. This was the year that brought The Arsenio Hall Show, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Saved by the Bell into our lives.
Lucille Ball, Mel Blanc and Gilda Radner were still alive. Hayden Panettiere (the chick from Heroes), Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Chris Brown (abusive boyfriend) hadn’t been born.
A gallon of gas was $1.12. A dozen eggs were less than a dollar. A first-class stamp was still only a quarter.
The Capitals still played their home games at the Caps Centre, were in the Patrick Division and the Wales Conference.
Mike Knuble was 16 and learning to drive. Alex Ovechkin was only three and most likely enjoying nap time back in Russia. Braden Holtby wasn’t born for another six months.
Bruce Boudreau, the hockey player, was splitting time in the AHL between the Springfield Indians and Newmarket Saints. George McPhee’s playing days were over and he was working on his next career move. Ted Leonsis didn’t become involved with AOL for another four years.
Like we said at the top, it’s been a long, long time since this team was this good. We’ve included two post-game videos below in which Ovechkin and defenseman Shaone Morrisonn talk about the win over the Ducks. Both are much more qualified than we are to talk about how the game against Anaheim was won.
We just thought a little perspective was in order to show just how well this team is playing and to give people an idea of how far back you have to go to find the last Capitals team that performed at this level. So yeah, enjoy it. Moments like this don’t come around very often.
12 comments
January 28, 2010 at 8:55 am
Love the “drifted away into obscurity” line about the Pens. Hilarious.
This sure looks like the best Caps team we’ve seen in a long time. Just have to hope that they’re not peaking too early.
January 28, 2010 at 8:56 am
‘all teams that have since drifted away to obscurity’
Giggle, Giggle!
January 28, 2010 at 9:40 am
This Post did bring back some good memories…I was a freshman in High School and in those days we would hand out Give-a-Ways and get free nosebleed seats (where you could bang on the ceiling) and all-you-can-eat Polio String Cheese.
January 28, 2010 at 10:31 am
Just for Milhouse….I was nine. And still lived in England. Wore proper schoolgirl uniforms. Watched tennis greats like Boris Becker and Martina Navratilova play in Wimbledon after school let out.
…but your string cheese memories seem nice too.
January 28, 2010 at 10:47 am
Do you stil have schoolgirl uniforms?
January 28, 2010 at 10:48 am
..Murf’s not going to read this, is he?
January 28, 2010 at 11:53 am
I only remember free Jerry’s Pizza with 6 goals, which you couldn’t use the coupon the same day.
I was going to say, didn’t you mean Quebec went into obscurity, but then I realized you were correct, it is Pittsburgh. We at the 5 Holes have brought Quebec back to the forefront.
January 28, 2010 at 3:37 pm
i love it, “have since drifted away to obscurity”
January 28, 2010 at 6:35 pm
I remember the Jerrys coupons. Wasnt there some giveaway for a shutout also? Oh and and my Quebec/5 Holes jersey hangs in basement wall. I cant afford the real stuff to hang up.
January 29, 2010 at 8:25 am
This article really got me waxing nostalgic/ feeling old. Yesterday afternoon a friend at work and I were talking about the perfect terribleness of the ‘Caps Center’. Home Whites, The Goal Siren, The Noise/Decibel Meter in the far corner, The Caps coming out to ‘Desire’ by U2, TV feed & Jeff Rivers and Craig Laughlin doing the play-by-play just off the concourse and everyone had the ‘Milk it does a body good’ Rod Langway (complete with slicked back mullet) or Pepsi sponsored Mike Gartner Growth Poster on their wall at home. Jerry’s Pizza was for either a Shut out or 6+ goals but I can’t remember what was for a Hat Trick (I remember at one time Bob’s Big Boy was in the Give-a-way mix). I don’t get to games as much as I would want these days but I have heard some fans still chant pizza after 5 goals like Landover Days.
January 29, 2010 at 12:17 pm
House,
Six goals was free pizza from Jerry’s and a hat trick by a Caps player equalled a half gallon of ice cream from Safeway. These days, five goals equals 10 free wings from Glory Days. Glad we cleared that up.
January 29, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Safeway Ice Cream? I have a Wendy’s jr. Bacon Cheeseburger in my mind for some reason….we need a third party decision!
I also got conformation on an Al Iafrate riding a Harley poster give-a-way titled ‘Wild Thing’. We were also reminded of a related to story of your said crush arriving to a caps practice on a Harley wearing boxers, cowboy boots and nothing else.