Pitchfork

The Washington Capitals are an NHL team with one of the brightest young stars in hockey, Alex Ovechkin, playing for them. But to give them that extra push they need to go all the way this year? Enter Syd Butler, hockey blogger extraordinaire.

Butler-- member of Les Savy Fav, founder of Frenchkiss Records, and D.C. native-- has launched a fan blog about his beloved Capitals through NHL.com. Right now, the blog consists of almost press release-y updates about the team and a couple links to "Cribs"-style looks at players' apartments, but what else can we expect?

"Besides my wit and charm?," Butler joked in an email to Pitchfork. "I'm doing my best to keep up with the Caps and all the publicity events and creative marketing. This organization has one of the best sports websites and they keep it fresh every day. The better the Caps do the better the blog will be :)"

It turns out Butler's hockey obsession goes way back. "I caught the bug when [I was] eight years old-- my extended family all got it. Once you play it...nothing else compares. I think it's the perfect sport. I know some might disagree, but your first stride on a clean sheet of ice is one of the best feelings in the world. I would [tell] guys it's like flying in short bursts. I just wish I had started playing earlier."

Thanks to reader Tom Brandeau for the tip!

In his usual musical capacity, Butler will help Les Savy Fav release their first album, After the Balls Drop, via Frenchkiss on April 29. The band has a handful of (mostly festival) dates this spring, including one at the ATP vs. Pitchfork face-off. Until then, though...go Caps!

Les Savy Fav:

04-25 Indio, CA - Empire Polo Field (Coachella)
04-27 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall *
05-08 Kingston upon Thames, England - The Works
05-09 Oxford, England - Zodiac at Oxford Academy
05-10-11 Rye, England - Camber Sands Holiday Centre (ATP vs. Pitchfork) !
05-29-31 Barcelona, Spain - Parc del Fòrum (Primavera Sound)
06-23-27 Arendal, Norway - Hove Festival

* with the Dodos
! with the Hold Steady, Bon Iver, Jens Lekman, Black Lips, Hot Chip, Caribou, No Age, Of Montreal, Man Man, Los Campesinos!, Vampire Weekend, Glass Candy, Dirty Projectors, Meat Puppets, the Black Angels, Fuck Buttons, Times New Viking, Marissa Nadler, Wooden Shjips, Deerhunter, Jay Reatard, Shit and Shine, Sebadoh, Ween, Redd Kross, Pissed Jeans, Yeasayer, Apse, A Place to Bury Strangers, the Clientele, Black Mountain, Harmonia, Born Ruffians, Howlin' Rain, Car Sick Cars, Even, Girls Against Boys, Various Production (DJ set)