Stars and Sticks
Fansided

Washington Capitals: Top 5 All-Time American-Born Players

By Michael Marzzacco

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 22: John Carlson #4 of Team USA makes his way towards the ice during the World Cup of Hockey 2016 against Team Czech Republic at Air Canada Centre on September 22, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 22: John Carlson #4 of Team USA makes his way towards the ice during the World Cup of Hockey 2016 against Team Czech Republic at Air Canada Centre on September 22, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next

#4 T.J. Oshie

TODAY — Pictured: (l-r) T.J. Oshie, Natalie Morales, Jonathan Quick from the 2014 Olympics in Socci — (Photo by: Joe Scarnici/NBC/NBC NewsWire via Getty Images)
TODAY — Pictured: (l-r) T.J. Oshie, Natalie Morales, Jonathan Quick from the 2014 Olympics in Socci — (Photo by: Joe Scarnici/NBC/NBC NewsWire via Getty Images) /

T.J. Oshie came to the Capitals in a trade with the St. Louis Blues for Troy Brouwer, Pheonix Copley and a third rounder in 2016.

The Everett, Washington native who also spent his youth in Warroad, Minnesota has been the heart and soul of the Capitals lineup. Aside from his speed, physicality, and dangle heroics, Oshie also shined the brightest on the international stage. In particular, it was his performance in the 2014 Olympics that got Capitals fans fired up for this franchise-changing trade.

In the 2014 games held in Sochi, Russia, Oshie stole the spotlight in an exciting preliminary contest between Team USA and Team Russia. After Oshie began  the rotation for the first three rounds, USA coach Dan Bylsma used Oshie for the remainder of the shootout. This was a rule that was permissible in the international rules. NHL rules prohibit a player being used more than once in a shootout round.

US Tj Oshie scores past Russia’s goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovski during a penalty shootout session at the end of the Men’s Ice Hockey Group A match USA vs Russia at the Bolshoy Ice Dome during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 15, 2014 in Sochi. US won 3-2 in the penalty shootout. AFP PHOTO / ALEXANDER NEMENOV (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images)
US Tj Oshie scores past Russia’s goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovski during a penalty shootout session at the end of the Men’s Ice Hockey Group A match USA vs Russia at the Bolshoy Ice Dome during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 15, 2014 in Sochi. US won 3-2 in the penalty shootout. AFP PHOTO / ALEXANDER NEMENOV (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images) /

Oshie came through in four of his six attempts against Russia netminder Sergei Bobrovsky and his goal in the eighth round sealed the victory for USA after Evgeni Malkin missed his attempt.

Although this was just a preliminary, the 3-2 USA victory over Russia catapulted them into the tournament before falling in the Bronze Medal game.

SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 15: T.J. Oshie #74 of the United States celebrates after scoring on a shootout against Sergei Bobrovski #72 of Russia to win the Men’s Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group A game on day eight of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 15, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 15: T.J. Oshie #74 of the United States celebrates after scoring on a shootout against Sergei Bobrovski #72 of Russia to win the Men’s Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group A game on day eight of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 15, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

It is unlikely that Oshie will be back in the Olympics with the NHL prohibiting players to participate in the games. Regardless, Oshie will be remembered among hockey fans throughout the country for his heroics and the upset over Russia was shades of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice”.

Home/History