Capitals: 5 Under-Appreciated Goals in the Ovechkin Era

T.J. Oshie’s Redemption Dagger

This goal is probably under-appreciated because it was scored during a regular-season game in November. However, this is one of those goals I discussed in the opening of this article where context is everything.

The Capitals and Penguins had only played one game prior to this one during the 2018-2019 season. It was a heartbreaking, 7-6 overtime loss for the Capitals. So, naturally, the Caps wanted revenge in their second matchup of the campaign.

In this game, T.J. Oshie was knocked out of the game for the majority of the first period after receiving a stick to the face. After returning to the game, Oshie was again taken out of the game as a result of a high hit from Evgeni Malkin early in the third period. Oshie returned yet again in that third period to offer his help in downing the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was able to do just that.

With only a minute and change remaining in the game, Oshie received a clean pass from John Carlson to give the Capitals the lead. This would, of course, be the game-winning goal in what has to be the craziest game of T.J. Oshie’s career.

I have to admit that this is probably my favorite regular-season goal the Capitals have ever scored. It is also a goal that didn’t matter all that much when compared to some others in recent years. It’s just a regular-season game-winner. But again, given the context and the fact that it was against the Penguins, I think it’s a goal that should be shown a lot more than it is. The fact that Osh had left the game not once, but twice. The fact that the pass from Carlson was one of the slickest darts of a pass you’ll see. Also, just how Oshie buried the puck: receiving it while skating away from Carlson and burying it as top-shelf as you can go. Just two American heroes doing what they were put on this planet to do – play hockey.