News From The Washington Capitals First Day Inside The Bubble in Toronto

Photos: @Capitals

The Washington Capitals held their first practice inside the bubble in Toronto on Monday. The Capitals will practice again on Tuesday before they face the Carolina Hurricanes in their only exhibition game on Wednesday. Things get real for the Capitals a week from today when they face the Tampa Bay Lightning in their first game of the round robin games. Here’s the latest from day one inside the bubble.

PRACTICE
The Capitals held their first practice at the Ford Performance Center in Toronto on Monday at 2:00 p.m. The team will practice at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow as they begin sliding their schedule more towards late afternoon. The Capitals first exhibition game against the Hurricanes is at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday and their first round robin game against the Tampa Bay Lightning is at 4:00 p.m. next Monday.

Yeah, we’re thinking the #HoltBeast is back…#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/g4Dur1l2jx

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 28, 2020

INTERVIEWS
Carl Hagelin met with the media following the teams first practice. Hagelin said “we are planning to be away for nine weeks, that’s a commitment from every single guy…we’re a dedicated group, we want to make the most of the situation.”

Hagelin added, “I thought it was our most intense practice so far. You could see that the guys were a little more excited today. Now it’s for real. We’re here in Toronto.”

“I thought it was our most intense practice so far. You could see that the guys were a little more excited today. Now it’s for real. We’re here in Toronto.”

Hags shared his first impressions of the bubble after the team’s first practice in Toronto. #ALLCAPS | @CarlHagelin pic.twitter.com/6l8FNs3CcH

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 27, 2020

T.J. Oshie was interviewed by NHL.com on Sunday after arriving at the teams hotel. Oshie said “it’s definitely been different, I think everyone is adjusting, but as far as being back with the fellas, it’s great seeing them again, obviously for a long time there, we were apart, actually probably longer than we’ve ever been.”

“In my opinion, it’s going to be one of the most remembered #StanleyCup Playoffs for a long time, maybe ever.” @RyanJohansen19 and @TJOshie77 were pumped to arrive in their respective hub cities. pic.twitter.com/nBuBiYId4t

— NHL (@NHL) July 27, 2020

Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson
The Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and Norris Trophy nominee John Carlson met with the media following practice.

Todd Reirden
Capitals head coach Todd Reirden met with the media following Monday’s practice. Reirden said “I think we are off to a good start.”

NEWS AND NOTES

Garnet Hathaway
Forward Garnet Hathaway has been named the club’s 2019-20 nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, the Capitals and National Hockey League announced today. The trophy is awarded annually “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.” (More here.)

Testing Results
While the MLB has had COVID-19 problems since its 2020 season started last week, the NHL announced on Monday afternoon that no players have tested positive for the virus in the past week. 4256 tests were given among 800 players from July 18-25. (More here.)

IMAGES FROM INSIDE THE BUBBLE
Each team was required to include one social media person as part of their list of 52 players, coaches and staff per team inside the bubble, as a condition of the stage 4 protocol. At this point, no other media are permitted inside the bubble, at practice or at the games.