If there's a hard way to do something....

ONE DOWN, TWO TO GO

A few weeks ago I wrote here about the start of the new ice hockey season and the sense of hope that came with it.  In it I said that we caps fans weren't a demanding lot.  We're loyal, and, knowing how inferior our budget is to the bigger clubs, our hopes and expectations are realistic.  I wrote :

"If we could qualify for the knockout stages of the cup; if we could finish in the top eight of the league and have a chance to make it to the Playoffs; and, most importantly, if we can beat old rival Fife Ayers (their misprint, not mine) then we'll consider that a successful season."

Tonight we had the chance to see the first of those simple aspirations come true.  With the added edge that it was in a match against old rivals Fife Flyers.  After a run of four wins in five games the team had got themselves into the position where a win in regulation time would guarantee a place in the knockout stages of the cup.  A Caps game that actually had an important outcome, now that's been a rarity over the years!

What we got was a drama of Shakespearean intensity and complexity, and heart stopping tension.  Complete with a bit of light relief, courtesy of the Fifers.  Caps were 0-1 down after the first period.  And a bit of as disaster in the second, with Fife adding a second, us getting one back, but two more Fife goals before the end.  Trailing 1-4 was, I confess on the disheartening side.  They've managed a few comebacks in recent games, but four goals in twenty minutes was asking a lot.  And even if we scored three then won in overtime it wouldn't make that cup place secure.

We're now wondering what Coach Dobron said to the guys before that third period started.  They must have been magic words.  Two goals in the first three and half minutes, the equaliser four minutes later, and constant pressure on the Fife goal gave us the lead with more than four minutes still on the clock.  And another a couple of minutes later just to be on the safe side....

It wasn't always pretty.  But it was exciting, impressive, exhilarating, exhausting to watch.  There will be a lot of sore throats in Edinburgh tomorrow morning.  When our fifth went in a surprising number of Flyers fans started heading for the exit, more following after the sixth.  There weren't many left when the buzzer went.  They don't do loyalty in Fife, not like Caps fans.

What a night.  A three goal deficit turned into a two goal victory.  Humiliation for our oldest rivals.  And, for once, Caps have qualified for something.  The way they are playing this season it won't be the last.

If you live in the Edinburgh area you really, really should come along and give this team a watch.  (Fixture list here.)  It might not always be quite as drama packed as tonight's occasion, but it certainly won't be dull.

#MonTheCaps