Before James Mirtle's post today about the Capitals' successful rebuild, there was evidence of more Caps love from our neighbors to the north. Junior at Heroes in Rehab initially made the case for Leaf fans to adopt the Capitals as their team of choice to root for in the playoffs:

For just pennies a day, I will be cheering on Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals, who are now this year's Southeast division champs (which is a little like being declared the tallest jockey in Kentucky). The Caps have a lot to offer to the interested Leaf fan, it seems to me: they are not a divisional rival, so itinerant Leaf fans need not be accused of fickle capriciousness.

Fellow Leaf blog Pension Plan Puppets agreed, and proudly announced that game previews and recaps would be available on the blog during the Caps-Flyers series.

Pretty easy to figure out who is the force of light and who comes from the depths of hell (hint: they play for Ed "Satan" Snider). I am actually really excited to see the Capitals in the playoffs.

Who can argue with that?

Here's hoping that this new avenue of support works out in the Capitals' favor, and not this way, as PPP suggests:

The Washington Capitals are our team. For now at least because once the hockey gods find out that Leaf fans are cheering for a team their season will end in a cruel and scarring way. Maybe we should cheer for the Habs? I just hacked off the fingers that wrote that sentence.

While some Caps fans may debate the merits of Leaf supporters rooting for their team, the Caps deserve all the backing they receive, no matter what the source. (Within reason, of course.)