As everyone knows by now, the Washington Capitals suffered a terribly disappointing loss to the Florida Panthers at home last night. Their fans booed after it ended, and their color commentator may or may not have described one of the Panthers' goals using PG-13 language. (Craig Laughlin says he didn't, but it sure sounds like he did).
↵But like Laughlin, the team may have an alibi. Normally, when a bunch of hockey players play ... well ... shi***, they feel sick about it. Today, at practice, many of the players were still sick about it. Well, so to speak.
↵Via Katie Carrera of the Washington Post:
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↵↵↵Six players are battling the flu and five of them did not skate at KCI on Friday. Brooks Laich, Alexander Semin, Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson and Boyd Gordon did not take part in practice, while Mike Green, who is also suffering from flu symptoms, was on the ice briefly. Matt Hendricks also said he's been warding off a cold for several days now, but he skated.
↵The players aren't the only ones, either. Coach Bruce Boudreau said strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish, team services manager Ian Anderson and a dressing room attendant at Verizon Center all have the flu, too.
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See, when you're sick, you don't play your best, and when you're not playing your best, you're prone to losing to the Florida Panthers. So chill out, Caps fans. This can all be explained by your run of the mill flu bug that hits almost all of your core players at the same time. Right? Right?
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