Edmonton Journal

Capitals keeping close track of Nationals’ run in World Series

- DEREK VAN DIEST dvandiest@postmedia.com Twitter: @Derekvandi­est

The Washington Capitals are off to a good start this NHL season and have kept their focus on the ice heading into their game against the Oilers at Rogers Place on Thursday.

Yet, the Capitals also are paying close attention to the World Series as the Washington Nationals, formerly known as the Montreal Expos, are attempting to win their first championsh­ip.

There is a strong camaraderi­e between the profession­al teams in the U.S. capital, who already have a championsh­ip this year with the Washington Mystics winning the WNBA title.

“We know some of them (Nationals) a little bit, we say hi and stuff, and they’ve supported us big-time in the past,” Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby said. “There are a few us in here that have been big baseball fans for a long time and it’s kind of nice to see everyone else jump on board.”

Growing up in Lloydminst­er, Holtby spent his share of time on a baseball diamond. He played the game as a kid and is fully aware of the Nationals’ history, moving to Washington from Montreal in 2005.

“You might want to quiz everyone to see how many people actually know that,” Holtby smiled. “You definitely hear it back home (in Canada) a little bit more of people who have cheered for the Nationals throughout just because of the Expos. I don’t think it’s too well-known.”

Holtby remembers the Expos well, having grown up as a baseball fan in Canada rooting for the Toronto Blue Jays.

“We got all the Jays games, but CBC would always broadcast the Canada long-weekend series between the two teams,” Holtby said. “It’s kind of the only time I ever got to watch them. They were always the foes because of the Jays.”

Prior to coming to Edmonton, the Capitals dispatched the Calgary Flames 5-3 on Tuesday and then congregate­d around the nearest television in the visiting dressing room. The Nationals won the opening game of the best-of-seven series 5-4 against the Houston Astros. Game 2 was Wednesday in Houston.

“To be honest, there are a lot of guys that follow baseball, but not necessaril­y the Nationals until we got to D.C.,” Capitals forward Nic Dowd said. “It’s great, the respect between the teams. The Mystics just won a championsh­ip and that was incredible and the Caps won a couple of years ago and we’re hoping the Nats keep on pushing and are able to win it.”

While on the road, the Capitals have adopted the Nationals logo and are using it on their nameplates above their locker stalls. Washington is currently on a five-game road trip and had an optional practice at the Downtown Community Area on Wednesday.

They’ll move on to face the Vancouver Canucks on Friday and then take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. They won’t be back to Washington in time to catch a Nationals home game in the series, but will be around for the parade if there is one.

“We like baseball to the point that right as the game ended (in Calgary) all the boys didn’t even wait to take off all their stuff.

“And we were watching the game in our wet underwear in the training room, cheering (the Nationals) on — and the boys gave a pretty big cheer when the game ended,” Dowd said.

Having won the Stanley Cup in 2018, the Capitals are looking to get themselves back in the championsh­ip conversati­on.

The Caps head into Edmonton with a 7-2-2 record and on a four-game winning streak. They are currently atop the Metropolit­an Division and are being led offensivel­y by defenceman John Carlson, who leads the league in scoring with five goals and 20 points in 11 games. Ovechkin has seven goals and 12 points.

“You look at the Mystics, who just won a championsh­ip, a few of the guys got lucky enough to get to go to a game in the playoffs,” forward Garnet Hathaway said. “Scherzer dropped the baseball at our game. He even read the lineup for us.

“I love baseball, so it’s exciting to have that and it’s exciting to see all the D.C. sports teams all come together, have each other’s back and root for each other.”

 ?? GEOFF BURKE/USA TODAY SPORTS ?? Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer waves to the crowd after dropping the ceremonial first puck prior to a game between the Capitals and the Rangers at Capital One Arena.
GEOFF BURKE/USA TODAY SPORTS Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer waves to the crowd after dropping the ceremonial first puck prior to a game between the Capitals and the Rangers at Capital One Arena.
 ?? WILL NEWTON/GETTY IMAGES ?? Alexander Ovechkin of the Capitals celebrates after throwing the first pitch before Game 4 of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Nationals.
WILL NEWTON/GETTY IMAGES Alexander Ovechkin of the Capitals celebrates after throwing the first pitch before Game 4 of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Nationals.
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