Caps defenseman John Carlson rocks a Pride Tape stick during warmups last year. Photo: Courtesy Washington Capitals
Mark your calendar:Caps Pride Night is this Saturday as Washington hosts the Florida Panthers.
Why it matters: Gay hockey is having a huge moment thanks to "Heated Rivalry."
The big picture: The show's unexpectedly massive fandom is taking over Hollywood and corners of the NHL, creating a new wave of hockey fans who're coming out for the competition and maybe a little longing across the red line.
Pride nights in pro-hockey date back over a decade. But with the show spiking ticket sales, Pride events are poised to get even bigger and brighter (see: Seattle Kraken's fly jerseys that went viral over the past weekend).
Zoom in: The Caps' 10th annual Pride Night kicks off with a free pre-game Block Party at District E starting at 5pm.
Go for specialty happy hour food and drink, giveaways and nostalgic party rock from NovaKane.
In-game activations include spotlights on LGBTQ+ community leaders, and an auction with signed, rainbow-wrapped sticks and pucks that benefit the Wanda Alston Foundation.
🎟️ A specialticket offer includes a Pride-themed Capitals rainbow jersey.
