Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

When TJ Oshie was acquired in the summer over a trade with Troy Brouwer, the Capitals knew they were getting a star. Osie had always been a big player for the St. Louis Blues, but it was his performance over the Olympics in Sochi, Russia that helped him rise to fame.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

In a game against Russia during the 2014 Winter Olympics, his shootout performance was one to remember as he scored four out of six goals. In his seven seasons with the Blues, the most goals he has scored was 21. That came, you guessed it, during the 2013-2014 season. Right now he is on pace to break that mark and have the biggest season of his young NHL career. He currently has 12 goals this season, good for 22nd in the league.

Last night, his two goals were crucial in a 5-3 comeback win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. While his second goal was an empty-netter that secured the win, his first goal was the goal that gave the Caps momentum. The Lightning had a chance to go up 4-1, but Phillip Grubauer made a spectacular stop. Oshie got the puck and raced down the ice and buried the puck in the net to cut the deficit to 3-2.

.

“Hockey is a huge momentum game. Despite the goal we gave up, I thought we still had a good first period. In the second I think they took over and in the third, the momentum shifted quickly to our favor and we took it to them,” Oshie told reporters last night after the game. “Sometimes you get that feeling that the bounces will start going your way and that’s what they did for us in the third.”

The bounces did go their way. After the goal by Oshie, Alex Ovechkin tied the game and Marcus Johansson put the Caps in the lead for good. Now the Capitals look to take that momentum into The Garden tomorrow night in a big Metro Division game at the Rangers.

By Michael Marzzacco