"Only love (and the Caps) can break your heart..."

Thursday April 24, 2008 @ 03:35 PM EDT

Syd Butler is the bassist for Les Savy Fav, a New York-based band considered among the godfathers of the independent rock music scene. Butler founded the Frenchkiss Records label, with the intent to release the band’s albums, and has since signed over 35 bands, including the Hold Steady, Thunderbirds Are Now, and the Dodos. Ever since growing up in the Washington D.C. area, Syd has been a die-hard Washington Capitals fan. He can’t wait to see what the Stanley Cup Playoffs bring for his Caps.


According to Neil Young, “Only love can break your heart,” but I need to add…the Caps losing.


I would first like to take this time to thank the NHL for giving me this amazing opportunity. It has been a lot of fun to write about my lifelong favorite team for the NHL.


I love the Capitals. I think they are a class act. I appreciate that the owners and management are dedicated to making this team great, and that they want to deliver a great experience for the fans as well.


I think the Caps did everything they could. They lost, but they were not beat. They lost, but they gave everything to each other and to the fans. I am reminded of the Bad News Bears. They made it to the finals and lost, but they celebrated anyway. I think the Caps have a lot to celebrate.


I could go into why I think the officiating was crap, how the calls were rubbish and favored the Orange – the goaltender interference non-call that led to the Flyers’ second goal… It could have gone either way, but tonight went to the Flyers. It seemed that throughout the whole series the officiating went the Flyers way.


But I’m sure Flyers fans saw it differently. They probably think the refs called too many penalties on the Flyers. They may be right as I saw many the Caps got away with.


At the end of the day, the Flyers put the puck in the net. They were given a power play and they scored. And we lost. Exhale.


I am proud of my Caps. I love that they came back. I love that they made it exciting in April. I love that they won the Southeast division. (I have money down they will win it next year!) I love that Ovie and his team had a taste from the playoff cup. I love that the Caps made D.C. a hockey town again. I love that I got to see Federov in a Caps sweater. I love that fans got mohawks as tokens of love for Mike Green. There is so much to love.


My broken heart will soon mend as I look forward to next year.


Thank you guys for everything. Enjoy your summer. I’m off to the beach. I’ll make sure I get sunburned so I can “rock the red”.


Best,


Syd

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