The Washington Capitals hadn't made the Stanley Cup Finals in 24 years, so is it any wonder Ticketmaster is confused?

Many Capitals fans found themselves surprised this week when tickets they thought they had ordered for last night's Game 3 arrived and turned out to be for the Capitals' third home game of the series, which would be Game 6 if the series goes that long.

"My dad has been a fan for 20 years and I've been a fan for 10 years," said Crystal Petro of Deale, Md. "We ordered our tickets even before the Caps clinched the Eastern Conference. Now this."

Petro was actually lucky -- she was able to get four single tickets scattered through the MCI Center. Others were simply stuck.

Ticketmaster supervisor Jared Pelkey said Ticketmaster does not issue exchanges or refunds.

"We can't exchange because there are no other tickets available," Pelkey said. "The problem was that in our computers the Capitals' third home game comes up as Game 3. It was confusing for our operators."

Ticket prices run from $85 in the upper deck to $220 for front-row seats. Pelkey said ticket buyers in all price ranges were affected.

"We issue an apology for the inconvenience and confusion but it doesn't help them," Pelkey said.

If the Capitals don't make it past Game 5, there will be automatic refunds for all Game 6 tickets.

Pub Date: 6/14/98