Metro Forces Caps Fans to Abandon Double-Overtime Playoff Game

WASHINGTON, DC — As midnight approached Saturday night at the Verizon Center, Washington Capitals fans began to head for the exits. Not because the game was over -- the Caps were still locked in a 3-3 tie in overtime with the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs -- but because Metro was shutting down soon and they had few other options to get home.

Metro's new earlier closing time has caused problems in the past with D.C.-area sporting events. The Washington Redskins' Sunday and Monday night football games last season caused headaches for fans who had to rush to catch the last train. A similar "last train" announcement at a Washington Nationals playoff game last year prompted chants of "Metro sucks."

On Saturday night, it was Washington Capitals fans who were forced to choose between supporting the team and getting back home without shelling out a lot more money to hail a taxi or an Uber ride. Verizon Center flashed a "Metro closes at midnight" warning on the big screen hanging above the ice midway through the first overtime period. The game wouldn't end until the Maple Leafs scored well into the second overtime period.

Not surprisingly, reactions on Twitter were quite negative.

The nation's capital! pic.twitter.com/ockEuOn6IA
— Chris Gordon (@Chris_Gordon) April 16, 2017

That is ridiculous. https://t.co/FlluiONK8p
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) April 16, 2017

NYC > DC https://t.co/8txgQ0KOLV
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) April 16, 2017

Image via WMATA