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Washington Capitals: Happiness in D.C. in Just a Few Short Minutes

ByMichael Marzzacco|
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 11: Washington Capitals fans stand prior to the game against the Carolina Hurricanes on April 11, 2019, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 11: Washington Capitals fans stand prior to the game against the Carolina Hurricanes on April 11, 2019, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Sports in Washington, D.C. are a roller coaster no matter the team. Last year the Washington Capitals provided the city with the ultimate joy on June 7.

Fast forward to the spring of 2019 and it’s looking like sports joy is coming back to the District. The Wizards are moving forward in the rebuilding process. D.C. United is first in the MLS Eastern Conference and feature international star Wayne Rooney.

The Nationals look to contend for a return to October. The local baseball team was actually just up the road from the playoff hockey action of Game 2.

The Nationals and Capitals have shared a bond. Two days after winning the Stanley Cup in the Vegas dessert, the Capitals took the Cup out to the ballgame.

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Alex Ovechkin threw out the first pitch and even got a redo. Players were signing along to “we are the champions” on live TV and there were some beverages consumed.

The Nationals in turn have supported the Capitals. Adam Eaton fired up the crowd with the “Let’s Go Caps!” chant prior to Game 1.

When the Nationals are off and the Capitals have a playoff home game, that’s usually been tradition. Manager Davey Martinez has done it and most notably Max Scherzer and Ryan Zimmerman prior to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

It’s trickled down that way to the fan base as well and I saw it firsthand. I actually was attending the Nationals game against the Pirates during the Capitals game that Saturday afternoon. I followed the action on my phone from the metro ride to the ballpark all the way to my seats in the upper deck. What caught my eye was the amount of Capitals jerseys I saw on the metro. Keep in mind, I was on a subway train when the game started.

Not every fan was doing what I was doing. As I got to the ballpark I saw some Capitals jerseys among the Nationals crowd. I thought it was just cool being in the city for a big sports day. There were some cheers in the stadium from those who did have phones and saw the Brooks Orpik game-winning goal in overtime. Others who weren’t checking the score and actually watching the baseball game were pleased with the outcome, except of course for those in Pittsburgh Pirates jerseys.

Those cheers trickled up even more when the action moved to the field seconds later. Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Eaton and Howie Kendrick went back-to-back to put the Nationals in front. That led to an eventual 3-2 win.

https://twitter.com/NBCSNationals/status/1117234066313687040

It’s great seeing the city’s teams come together and deliver happiness for both crowds in the middle of cherry blossom festivities. Here’s hoping that the best is still yet to come for both teams.

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