#9 Nic Dowd’s overtime winner
Unfortunately this was the only playoff win of 2021 as the Capitals were bounced in the first round. This occurred in Game 1 and for a while it gave us a glimmer of hope.
Tom Wilson got the scoring started. Jake DeBrusk tied it. Brenden Dillon gave the Caps the lead before the Boston Bruins tied it back up on a power play goal from Nick Ritchie.
In overtime at 4:41 Nic Dowd deflected in a shot from T.J. Oshie to give the Caps the overtime win. What made this moment cool for Dowd is that he became the first player from Alabama to score a goal. Roll Tide, right? Lol.
Dowd is from Huntsville and there was even a cool moment at morning skate a few days ago where there were two youth hockey players who play hockey in Alabama because of Dowd’s impact in that community.
Dowd told Tarik El-Bashir of The Athletic (subscription required):
"“You just got to read the play. You have the opportunity to join the rush, you join the rush and you make a play, and we were fortunate enough to do that.”"
Dowd’s a cool dude and he deserved to have that moment. We are fortunate to have him. He’s not Jay Beagle but he sure is close.