Better late than never, right? I’m not sure if that applies to the vintage 2009-10 performance the Washington Capitals turned in against the Anaheim Ducks last week or to this blog post with my photos from that game last Wednesday.  Could be both.  If any of you on the east coast were still awake for it, it must have been nice for you too see them score seven, but you know what was better? Being there.  As we’ve all endured the vanishing offense and started becoming used to a return of Y2K-era-like trap-based hockey, the game against the Ducks was the most exciting game I can remember attending in a long time (Winter Classic not withstanding considering its special circumstances, although the hockey itself was kinda boring).

A few notes from Anaheim… I’ve never been approached by as many people in or around an arena with as many comments, questions, chirps, cheers as at the Pond (it was Arrowhead Pond when I lived there and Honda Center just doesn’t ring true). One of the Redskins Hogettes sat behind us. It felt like a third of the people in the Pond were wearing red or Winter Classic gear. The in house announcer was no better than the guy in Phoenix a couple days before. If these are the types that @WesJohnsonVoice has to compete with, he should have lifetime job security at Verizon Center. Drives “home” are better after a win.

The game was so long ago now that the Capitals have played two and a half games since then (I write this as the second period of Capitals-Penguins in Pittsburgh comes to an end), I’ve flown across the country, retuned to work, and spent a great weekend with my family. If you want to read about it, try Japer’s Rink, Russian Machine Never Breaks, The Peerless or any of the others out there. Read the box score from Capitals Outsider. @ikeastan was there, too, and she posted some great photos on flickr.  You can see my photos here or on flickr.  There’s a lot more than usual, I hope you enjoy them!