Despite the shootout loss, the Washington Capitals were in rare form for their pre-season opener on Sunday. But perhaps the biggest takeaway from the game was how well Pheonix Copley played. 

Copley played an amazing first half of the game, stopping 21 of the 22 shots he faced over 32 minutes. All while it looked like the Capitals were still shaking off the defensive rust.

Watch this save by Copley right after a blown defensive coverage on Marcel Noebels.

Pheonix Copley stretches the pad to deny the breakaway chance for Boston. pic.twitter.com/u18FTbyGax

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) September 16, 2018

Other honorable mentions from today’s game include a tick tac toe passing play from André Burakovsky to Christian Djoos and finally into Brett Connelly’s wheelhouse to slam home the game tying goal.

Brett Connolly puts the #Caps on the board in Boston. pic.twitter.com/oZO9OoNagk

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) September 16, 2018

And just in case anyone was wondering where Ovechkin was today he attended the Redskins game. Hopefully we’ll get to see him in action against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday 9/20.

If anybody was wondering what jersey Ovi was wearing pic.twitter.com/Qcl8ZKNhPh

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 16, 2018

By Charlie DiPasquale