Capitals Bring Back Hot Lap Superstition At Morning Skate Prior To Game 3 vs. Hurricanes

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You know what they say: if something works, do it again. After winning the first Stanley Cup in franchise history last season, the Washington Capitals brought back their morning skate superstition that they used during their run to the Cup: the “hot-lap.” Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin did the team’s first “hot-lap” of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the team’s morning skate prior to Game 3 of their First Round Series with the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. 

Last season, former Capitals center Jay Beagle started that tradition, which occurs at the beginning of the morning skate on the road to keep the team loose going into their game. Once the Capitals finally lost a game, the torch got passed on to Ovechkin, former head coach Barry Trotz, and center Lars Eller.

The Capitals were 3-1 when Ovechkin did the honors last spring. He took over the reins after the team lost their first road game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in Game 4 at the Pittsburgh Penguins. In addition, they went 10-3 on the road and won all four of their playoff series away from Capital One Arena en route to winning the Stanley Cup.

Eller did not pick up from last year as he was the last Capitals to do the hot-lap and the team decided to restart the rotation.

Capitals’ Game 3 Lines

 

By Harrison Brown

About Harrison Brown

Harrison is a diehard Caps fan and a hockey fanatic with a passion for sports writing. He attended his first game at age 8 and has been a season ticket holder since the 2010-2011 season. His fondest Caps memory was watching the Capitals hoist the Stanley Cup in Las Vegas. In his spare time, he enjoys travel, photography, and hanging out with his two dogs. Follow Harrison on Twitter @HarrisonB927077
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4 Responses to Capitals Bring Back Hot Lap Superstition At Morning Skate Prior To Game 3 vs. Hurricanes

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