On May 1, Bryce Harper tweeted, “Could you imagine a Golden Knights vs. Capitals Stanley Cup? #Epic.”
Most Washington fans know by now that Harper would not be rooting for the home team if that comes to pass. While Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez and several players support the Washington Capitals’ playoff run, Harper’s allegiance lies with the expansion team in his hometown, the Vegas Golden Knights, which has clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Martinez, in particular, has adopted the Capitals as a rooting interest just a few months after arriving in Washington for his first managerial gig. After some Nationals games, he has rushed back to his office to catch the end of playoff hockey games. He and Capitals coach Barry Trotz have exchanged text messages.
“He reached out to me when I got the job,” Martinez said of Trotz. “I have been a huge fan (of the Capitals). They are fun to watch.”
It didn’t take long for pitcher Tim Collins to get with the program. Called up from Triple-A Syracuse by the Nationals before Monday’s game against the San Diego Padres, the lefty reliever wore a Capitals baseball hat when he met with the media before the game. That may have be a bold step for Collins, who grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, not far from Bruins territory in Boston.
Several members of the Nationals have worn Capitals’ T-shirts and gear during batting practice, and some attended Game 1 of their second-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Not only was Martinez among them, he was the Capitals’ “Fan of the Game,” which comes with the responsibility of leading the pre-game “Let’s go Caps” chant.
His star outfielder, Harper, has attended a Capitals’ game this season too. When they played the Golden Knights last December in Nevada, Harper did the ceremonial puck drop — wearing a Vegas jersey.
There is no question which side the Las Vegas native would support if the teams met again in the Stanley Cup Finals.
“I remember everybody kept saying, “Hockey in the desert? How’s that going to work?’’ Harper told USA Today recently. “Well, it was 95 outside, 35 inside and one of the greatest atmospheres I’ve ever been to in my life.”
On Sunday, the Golden Knights won their fourth straight game against the Winnipeg Jets to clinch the Western Conference Finals.
Trotz told reporters Monday morning that the Knights were “a fabulous story” and “a great job by the NHL coming up with a format” to put an expansion team in position to succeed.
“I’ve been part of that whole process. There’s nothing tighter than a first-year group because there’s no preconceived notion,” Trotz said. “The leadership’s not really in place. Everybody doesn’t know where to live. There’s all those things. It’s galvanizing.”
Monday night’s Game 6 at Capital One Arena will determine whether the Capitals still have a shot to meet Vegas in the Finals. The Tampa Bay Lightning will advance with one more win.
Nationals reporter David Driver contributed to this story.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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