It’s no secret that hockey players are superstitious. They’re known to repeat specific pregame rituals that will make them feel more comfortable, and maybe more lucky, heading into games.
Last season, the Washington Capitals were very superstitious. Alex Ovechkin needed to bite Andre Burakovsky and Jakub Vrana before every game, Ovechkin needed to have a stool in a specific place for interviews, and someone from the team always needed to take a lap around the ice before road games (titled the “hot lap”).
I think we can all agree that sports are weird and they make us do weird things too. Personally, I was on a diet during the beginning of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year and I’m convinced that’s why the Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup. Of course, this means that I need to do the same this year (I would give up two years of my life for Shake Shack right now). I’m going through everything I did and I’m trying to figure out what brought luck to the boys in red.
I am not alone in this endeavor.
Earlier this week, we asked Caps fans what bizarre superstitions they were bringing back from last year for this year’s playoff run. More than 400 people responded in what is our greatest Twitter thread ever.
Hey, Caps fans. What weird superstitions are you bringing back from last year for this year's playoff run?
— RMNB (@russianmachine) April 9, 2019
Will the below superstitions work? Who knows, but if we don’t do them and the Capitals lose? We will only blame ourselves.
Some of us have musical traditions to keep up. Listening to the same playlist, or artist, this year is a key tactic for some.
Does having the same ‘loffs playlist as last year count? pic.twitter.com/JBxxpCSIb7
— Kate Monster 🏒❤️ (@KateMonster08) April 8, 2019
Playing the same playlist from last year in my car, and continuing to change the lyrics on the songs (especially Unstoppable!) to include my Caps hype 😉
— April Davis (@3A_Davis88) April 9, 2019
Listening to Judas Priest before every game.
— salvatore (@gigatronik) April 10, 2019
Listened to https://t.co/EbeV374hnH and refused to drink beers from opponent’s city
— Perry Hamburg (@PHamburg91) April 9, 2019
Of course, there are the drinking and eating superstitions. Always making sure that you’re eating the same thing or you’re drinking the same thing (sometimes even out of the same glass).
Drinking sour beer. I started during Game 4, Round 1 last year and didn’t stop. Same game plan this year.
— Playoff Beagle, Pt. I: Enter The Jerks (@CapsRegalBeagle) April 8, 2019
Ovie’s pregame diet. pic.twitter.com/HWZDJmHdd3
— Steve Lingo (@IamSLingo) April 9, 2019
Drink a lot of Chardonnay out of my Caps wine glass? If I must….
— Christine Innocenti (@CapsLvr) April 8, 2019
uh I had chickfila before every finals game except game 1… if* we make it that far looks like my bank account will be suffering
— hailey (@tomwilsonhours) April 9, 2019
Already bought my bottle of Basil Hayden’s bourbon, I opened the bottle after game 5 of the TBL series and we went 6-1 after that. Saved that bottle on a shelf with my signed Ovi jersey.
— Chris Hawkins (@CHawk1015) April 10, 2019
Only local beer for playoff games!
— Mama Bear (@phill_ispitchee) April 9, 2019
Mine is more fun & totally self indulgent! Last year I drank a certain locally made Vienna lager for Game 3 of the first round & all the subsequent games, so there’ll be plenty of that in the fridge again. It helps with the anxiety….
— Liam (@VAGooner9) April 8, 2019
I had nachos at least once every single round. It will be happening again. I’m not sorry 🙃
— Chelsea B (@cfbrobst) April 8, 2019
Before every game, drink a stout (must be a stout) while holding a receipt from Whole Foods (any receipt from Whole Foods). Pretty sure this is why we won it all last year.
— Mateo Wellman (@MateoWellman) April 9, 2019
No superstitions list is complete without the important “piece of clothing” posts.
My son was born the day we beat the Pens. (I watched the game from the hospital). After that he wore a Caps onesie every game day. It no longer fits him, but he has a new one to wear this year. pic.twitter.com/RyUA4GsEfa
— John Kendrick (@John_F_Kendrick) April 9, 2019
I haven’t worn the jersey I worn during the playoffs all year, I have worn all my other jerseys just not that one. Pulled it out for the first time since June 7th , hopefully it’s got some good luck left in it!
— Zach (@baxter_14) April 9, 2019
I wore an old, old Toronto Maple Leafs shirt to bed before each game 🤷🏻♀️
— Jayme Alfano (@jaymelynn1628) April 9, 2019
Red Sportcoat pic.twitter.com/PNGvq0rMOf
— W S T (@surfkapuhi) April 10, 2019
I went 16-2 in the black throwback. Haven’t worn it once since it got drenched in champagne. Breaking it out on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/iWJAq3se5J
— Nate Igor Smith (@drivenbyboredom) April 9, 2019
I’m a very new hockey fan, and last year was my first playoffs….I had a red hoodie from college (the only piece of red clothing I used to own) that I wore when the caps played and if I didn’t wear it (even if it was nearby) they didn’t do well…this will probably happen again.
— Bex is Awesome Con & Playoff’s Stressed (@DirectedByBecky) April 8, 2019
Wore the same Ovi shirt every time I went to a bar to watch the game and they won every time I wore it. Only time I didn’t wear it was game 1 against Vegas. I’m convinced if I did they would have swept them
— Daniel (@DanielFoster_94) April 8, 2019
I don’t have any caps merch but I have a blue and red check shirt that I wore so many times last playoffs… it’s time to start doing that again
— [Backstrom screams in Swedish for 45 seconds] (@tisahockeynight) April 8, 2019
Wear the same Oshie tee shirt while watching each Caps game and growing out the playoff beard! pic.twitter.com/mYVoARqtkU
— Johnny‼️‼️ (@J_Dearstine) April 10, 2019
I’m moving across the country and living out of suitcases for a while. But I’m going to pack my Holtby jersey and the You’re Doing Gr8 Babe t-shirt. Obvsly
— L May (@LDMay) April 8, 2019
I have a t-shirt that I bought during the ’98 Stanley Cup run. I always thought it unlucky because of that shutout loss, but last year, I finally figured if they’re bound to lose anyway, why not wear it? I wore it every dang game, unwashed. It will make a reappearance Thursday.
— Casey Swan (@caseynswan) April 8, 2019
On the opposite end of the “piece of clothing” spectrum, we have the rules of what NOT to be wearing during games. Including for RMNB’s own Cara Bahniuk has to just carry her jersey around the whole time. Not wear it. No way.
I also carried my Winter Classic jersey to every ECF and SCF game. Never actually wore it.
— cara (@carabahniuk) April 8, 2019
Never wearing caps gear or red on gamedays, I only wore red for G1&2 against CBJ last year and stopped after seeing how those games went
— Lukas Bergstrom (@LTSBTADB) April 9, 2019
Not wearing any Caps jersey. When I stopped after GM two of the Columbus series……they started to win.
— Ronnie (@MNMDkid) April 10, 2019
There are also plenty of hair rules that people will need to adhere to, including growing a new beard or dying their hair!
Last year was the first time i grew out a playoff beard.
— codefreak8 (@Codefreak8) April 8, 2019
The playoff ‘stache #back2back @Capitals pic.twitter.com/aIcS6ElMn8
— Ryan Bennett (@RBennett10) April 9, 2019
My superstitions change. Last year I had a beard all year but shaved when playoffs began. This year the opposite is true. Here is to me Shaving in late June! 👍🏻🍻
— mitch (@stanimal44) April 8, 2019
Contemplating the playoff mullet w/ stripes again pic.twitter.com/9PBP883How
— Defending Champion Washington Capitals (@littleportugues) April 9, 2019
Shaving my beard 30 min before puck drop every game(contrary to normal superstition). And one beer per period.
— Daniel Adams (@DAdams540) April 9, 2019
Having my hair the same way for every game but it’s different hair styles for each round then having my nails red French mani
— lexi (@lovelex16) April 9, 2019
Color my hair red every spring (in lieu of a playoff beard, obv). Last year, I went semi-permanent… reason being that after we get eliminated in rd2, I’m usually pissed off the rest of the summer looking at my red hair. Welp… guess that worked! I’ll be red for 27 more washes.
— Jen Davidson (@Jenny_0724) April 8, 2019
Got a haircut last week, won’t get another one or shave until the season’s over. Also going on a strict no drinking except during games regimen. Worked last year.
— put down that chainsaw and listen to me (@CJosephBea) April 8, 2019
One of the extremely positive trends that were tested? Fans improving their own body and mind, or the improving the life of someone else! A good move for anyone that partook AND CLEARLY a good move for the Capitals too.
I’m on weight watchers. Lost 6 pounds already. Gonna get a donut from @AstroDoughnuts after round one. Doughnuts for each round.
— 🏒ared (@yesjarebear) April 8, 2019
my magical thinking says that the caps do well on days when I go to the gym, but my usual boxing class is during prime game time, so obviously I have no choice but to start waking up for the 5:30 am class
— king husband (@elanpin) April 8, 2019
Last year I was preparing my Thesis defense and successfully defended it the day of Game 2 of the SCF. I will not be doing this again.
Thus far the Caps are undefeated in playoff games in which I had a successful thesis defense under my belt!
— Stan Lee Cup (@MuzzMuzzington) April 8, 2019
Dad went to gym during most games last year and playoffs; he did so again this season….slight change in how he looks pic.twitter.com/iGEiDSnLFJ
— Ovie the Bulldog (@OvietheBulldog) April 8, 2019
Yep – and I did 100 push-ups per game – or st least 100 game day -plus my baileys on ice in my caps glass – gonna be a long spring into summer I hope !!!
— kriknow vostovius capitals win stanley cup (@KVostovius) April 8, 2019
Last year, I pledged $10 for each Caps win to Humboldt Broncos, figuring I’d probably end up donating just $30-40
$200 later…I’ll do the same this year
— Joey Jo Jo (@hoejamilton) April 9, 2019
Some of us need to travel back to where we were. Don’t have the budget? Did you move away? Were you hungover on a flight back from Sacramento like I was? That’s too bad!
but i also almost died when i was violently hungover on a flight back from sacramento. love the caps but i will not be doing that again. https://t.co/DQ92StJktN
— playoffs elyse (@ElyseBee) April 8, 2019
My girlfriend was in Ireland for the entire final round. Need to start a go fund me to get her out of the country. Clearly the reason they won 😂
— Austin Morgan (@austinjmorgan) April 9, 2019
I moved across the country to Seattle from Ashburn shortly before playoffs started. If that ensures another Stanley Cup, I’ll move across the country again
— Sean Farrell (@spfcyberlaw) April 9, 2019
I was studying in Australia last spring and woke up early to watch all the games, but I can’t afford that flight this year 😭😭
— Makenzie Donaldson (@make14) April 10, 2019
Going back to Williamsburg and staying at the same place where I watched them win.
— TrinaMcdaniel (@TrinaMcdaniel52) April 9, 2019
i was in Rome for my hooneymoon for games 4 & 5. I will head back for the good of the fan base.
— Chris Szimanski (@chris_szimanski) April 9, 2019
I’m about to fly to California and watch round 3 from there like last year / and not be watching extremely important games
— StephMDaly (@StephDinDC) April 9, 2019
I mean if you’re telling me I have to be on a beautiful Greek island in early June I will be on a beautiful Greek island in early June, you don’t have to twist my arm, Elyse
— Alexandra Svokos (@asvokos) April 8, 2019
Does this mean I have to go back to India?…
— Ben Hurl Scarbs (@1bscarbro) April 8, 2019
A bunch of superstitions were just too damn good not to share.
Boyfriend and I get Starbucks before every game— but we gotta go together for us to win. Also gotta wear the same jersey/player shirt combo each game and we have a goal chant that pretty much always works so we’ll keep doing that too 😌
— Ashley 🌻 (@AshleyRoxYerSox) April 8, 2019
I guess I’ll continue to not walk my dog along the street with the house that flies a Pittsburgh flag.
— jensilber (@jensilber) April 9, 2019
My son moved to Ukraine last March and predicted the Caps would win the Cup since he wasn’t here for the Loffs. He’s still in Ukraine. Told him he had to stay there to continue the streak. Faceoff time is DC time plus seven hours!
— Countingdown (@CDLori) April 9, 2019
If I can’t catch games live, I’ll sit on the far right seat of my couch and drink 2.5 canned beers over the course of watching the recording.
— Tim Huddleston (@Huddlestron) April 9, 2019
Walk my dog between 2nd and 3rd periods. Stand up during Caps power plays if Caps trail and stand up during Opponent power plays if Caps ahead.
— Rosemary’s Undertaste (@WashDC1010) April 9, 2019
I watch episodes of the office during intermission. Never listened to a single intermission last year.
— Colin (@b33rhunter) April 9, 2019
Found a $10 bill on the street after Game 1 VGK and kept it in my pocket every day through Game 5. Been in my drawer ever since. Will be carrying it around on my person again starting Thursday.
— DCLS (@DCLStrip) April 9, 2019
I was a recent cord cutter. PlayStation Vue is on a 10 or so second delay. I’ll watch on a delay this year.
— Trevor Reaske (@TrevorReaske) April 10, 2019
I ask my daughter which jersey to wear to watch the games. The ones she picked usually worked out. Also flicking braden’s bobble head. I ask him if we are going to win and he nods his head every time.
— Eric Brooks (@Ovechbeard_21) April 9, 2019
Not washing my Jersey and sitting on the left side of the couch while the remote is placed on a 90⁰ angle with the corner of my coffee table and watching the game on 25 volume.
— Cris talks Caps (@cris_micelli5) April 9, 2019
Everyone in the house goes to the basement and sits in specific spots. Jerseys are a requirement now. After every Caps goal I have to run around and give everyone a high five and rush back to my seat. I have to sit with my legs crossed.
— The Year of Bäckström (@theloveofdjoos) April 9, 2019
My buddy, who is a Pens fan, gave me this as a gift right before the playoffs. Every game I watched at home, it was sitting in front of me. Gonna keep the tradition going. pic.twitter.com/oXmKjjvR1f
— John Newton 🎶 (@RichmondJohn804) April 9, 2019
OLD BAY!!! @OLDBAYSeasoning pic.twitter.com/nMpFa1Cuok
— matty fresh (@mattyfreshtunes) April 9, 2019
Assuming that we’re going to lose every round
— Nick (@cnkirch1215) April 9, 2019
My daughter, who was 6 at the time, made me a Caps, Caps, Caps sign the night which turned out to be their first win of the playoffs! Needless to say I put it up for every game after and will do so again! And yes, every C is backwards! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/QIJ2TyrTYt
— Above-Average Joe (@jcrem3) April 9, 2019
Banning my husband to the living room… as I rock back and forth in front of the bedroom tv in a ball of stress, nerves and uncontrolled emotions….
— Rachel DePompa (@RachelDePompa) April 9, 2019
I own a brewery restaurant in Leesburg. I have an old #28 Semin jersey we hung behind the bar during their playoff run last year. Every time we hung it for a game, they lost. It’s coming down on Thursday.
— Tim Regan (@TimRegan12) April 10, 2019
Walk my dog between 2nd and 3rd periods. Stand up during Caps power plays if Caps trail and stand up during Opponent power plays if Caps ahead.
— Rosemary’s Undertaste (@WashDC1010) April 9, 2019
But, the winners in my mind? The people that just won’t watch, or attend, the games. They love this team THAT much. This is the true meaning of sacrificing for something you love.
Once I stopped watching the went through the ECF and SC finals and won it all, so I won’t watch the games live
— Hina Ansari (@orangeyHina) April 8, 2019
Not watching the game!!
— Sour Puss (@sour_puss) April 9, 2019
Don’t attend playoff games. When I attend they lose. When I don’t, they win.
— Benjamin Tylka (@bentylka) April 9, 2019
I don’t know if this is weird, but I cannot go to any games that are potential elimination games.
— Susan Sall (@slsall) April 9, 2019
Tell us what you’re planning on continuing from last season!
