Washington Capitals Player Awards: Goal of the Year

One thing the Washington Capitals have always been known for is the ability to score goals.

The Washington Capitals have established a powerplay that is often imitated but never duplicated. This identity was truly cemented after the drafting of offensive players such as Alexander Ovechkin, Mike Green, and Nicklas Backstrom.

Throughout the years, they added some other great offensive talents in the likes of Evgeny Kuznetsov, John Carlson and the winner of the goal-of-the-year award for the Washington Capitals’ 2019-2020 regular season, T.J. Oshie.

There were some great goals scored this year. Alex Ovechkin scored his 700th goal, however that one did not qualify. So, before diving further into the goal of the year, let us examine the other gross nominees for the top goal of the season.

Lars Eller’s Bar-Down Rip

This was a tough one to not have at the top of the list. Lars Eller is not typically known for big goals (yes, I am kidding. Relax). However, he is not known for the flashiest goals. This one is exactly that. I remember watching live and being legitimately stunned at what I had seen. A third-line centre going end-to-end, throwing a massive toe drag and then going bar down right after. A highlight goal for sure, but not enough to overthrow number one.

Evgeny Kuznetsov’s Hands In-Tight

On this goal, Kuznetsov simply out-skills the goalie, Semyon Varlamov. He is one of the most elite, offensive talents in the league who is not afraid to try things on the ice and he is given all the time in the world to score a goal. He did not disappoint. It is a little insane to see a player in this tight to the net and score without taking a real shot. Imagine if you saw the start of this play when Kuzy receives the puck and someone told you he scored by being behind the goalie. Looking at it that way should help anyone see how crazy this goal is.

Now with these beauties out of the way, let’s get into the golden goal (well, sorta).

T.J. Oshie Undresses the Boston Bruins

This goal was chosen as the best goal scored by the Washington Capitals this year in a year where Alexander Ovechkin scored his 700th career regular-season goal. The reason being that this goal requires the absolute most skill of any goal scored this year.

What T.J. Oshie is able to do while going full speed towards the current President’s-Trophy-winning-team’s defense and goaltending is nothing short of amazing. This goal showcases Oshie’s elite set of hands as he receives a pass going at top speed and uses a disgusting windmill deke that I have trouble pulling off in NHL 20, and this guy is doing it against NHL defensemen.

Then, while getting blatantly hooked, he goes backhand top shelf on Tuuka Rask, who is absolutely no slouch by any stretch of the imagination. It is just the definition of a highlight-reel goal where skill and athleticism come together in a beautiful way. There just wasn’t a goal that was scored by the Capitals this season that topped Oshie’s ridiculous backhand against Rask and the Boston Bruins.