DETROIT, June 11 — The Washington Capitals' gritty play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals seems to have convinced much of Detroit that its on-ice opponents are far from the patsies many anticipated.

But there's a fierce belief that Hockeytown's fans have no peer — particularly in Washington.

Capitals fans have been taking a pounding in the Detroit media as being nonchalant about the game Detroit so reveres. The local Fox affiliate reported that of the thousands who have streamed into Detroit's Renaissance Center to see the Stanley Cup the past three days, only two have been Capitals fans, basing its figures on talks with a security guard.

The Detroit Free Press today blamed the sub-par TV ratings for Game 1 on "the no-name Capitals."

By contrast, all of Detroit is buzzing about the measures Leslie Wills took to support her Red Wings on Tuesday. The pregnant Wills, whose due date coincided with Game 1, attended the game anyway and refused to leave Joe Louis Arena even after her contractions began in the first period. Fans timed them as they got closer, and she still wouldn't leave. The baby — Noelle Elizabeth — was delivered at a nearby hospital three hours after the game ended. Wills planned to return to the arena for Game 2.

Stand and Deliver
You'll find some of Detroit's most raucous fans backed up against a wall at Joe Louis Arena. With most regular season games sold out, and tickets to the playoffs nearly impossible to get, the arena sells about 900 standing-room-only spots to fans who don't mind not having a cup holder — much less a seat.

"It's the standing-room crowd's job to keep the rest of the crowd in the game," said James Pallone, 25, who took off his Red Wings jersey and hiked up the sleeve of his T-shirt underneath to reveal the depth of his devotion. His meaty right shoulder sports a bright red tattoo of the Red Wings' logo, with "1997 Stanley Cup champions" beside it.

"I'm going to have it updated when they win this one," he said. "I'm going to do that for every championship they win for the rest of my life."

Fan-Tastic
The Capitals made a few fans during their stay in Detroit for Games 1 and 2 by stopping to sign autographs after their morning skates at Joe Louis Arena. This morning about two dozen fans swarmed around the Capitals' bus, shouting "Mr. Bondra!" "Mr. Oates!" and "Mr. Krygier" to get the players' attention as they went to board.

"They've been really good," said Norm Coon of Flint, Mich., who was collecting autographs on a vast assortment of NHL trading cards. "Most times players don't want to be bothered — especially at a crucial time in the year."

Skating for a Cause
Former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy took a day off from his odyssey of skating in-line across Canada today to collect a $10,000 check from the NHL Foundation. Kennedy's marathon is meant to raise awareness and money for the fight against child abuse.

"This has been such a hushed up subject in our society," said Kennedy, who came forward with his own story of having been abused as a youngster playing youth hockey.