As has been the case with several players and three coaches in the last two seasons, the Capitals paid tribute to another member of the team’s 2018 Stanley Cup-winning team on Saturday night with a tribute video to Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Niskanen during a television timeout.
Playing in his first game in Washington since being traded to the Flyers last summer, Niskanen, who was a key cog on the Caps’ blueline during their run to the first championship in franchise history, was honored with a tribute video during the first television timeout in the game between the two Metropolitan Division rivals.
Niskanen received a standing ovation from the Capitals’ faithful in attendance at Capital One Arena as the video was played on the jumbotron video board. The 33-year old rearguard was traded to the Flyers last summer in exchange for fellow defenseman Radko Gudas, as a result of the Capitals’ salary cap restraints.
A big roaring thank you to Nisky! #ALLCAPS | #CapsFlyers pic.twitter.com/7D3Wi4txWv
— MonumentalSportsNet (@MonSportsNet) February 9, 2020
Niskanen played 390 games in a Capitals sweater after signing a seven-year, $40.25 million deal with the team in the summer of 2014, more games than with any other team in his career.
Thanks, Nisky ❤️ pic.twitter.com/tA7Bq6u1IX
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) February 9, 2020
In those 390 games played, Niskanen recorded 156 points (29 goals, 127 assists), with a plus-58 rating while averaging 22:46 of ice time a night. In 53 games played heading into Saturday night’s game, Niskanen had scored seven goals and added 17 assists for 24 points, averaging 21:53 a night for Philadelphia Head Coach Alain Vigneault.
By Michael Fleetwood