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The Washington Capitals had been without right wing T.J. Oshie in their lineup since the tenacious forward sustained a lower-body injury on November 20 against the San Jose Sharks. On December 4, against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Oshie returned to the lineup for the first time since the team’s stop in San Jose.
Prior to the game, Oshie got the team amped up before taking the ice.
we’ll take babe we missed for 💯 pic.twitter.com/dOkCrECksH
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 4, 2021
He also picked up where he left off with pre-game partner Tom Wilson, with the two teaming up for their nightly pre-game routine of butt taps during warmups.
🍑taps🔙
🍑taps🔙
🍑taps🔙
🍑taps🔙
🍑taps🔙 pic.twitter.com/328DijJScn— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 4, 2021
Overall, Oshie skated a total of 16:23 in his return, recording no shots on net, while delivering three hits and one blocked shot, and finishing the contest with a minus-1 rating. The 34-year old forward has recorded seven points (four goals, three assists) in nine Games Played this season, with his return coming two weeks after the game against San Jose.
After the game, Oshie admitted some rust in his first game back:
“It felt fast out there, felt a little rusty. I haven’t been skating too much so I think it was kind of to be expected, but all-in-all playing with Mikey [Connor McMichael] and Shears [Conor Sheary] they did a good job of winning battles and getting pucks deep…I tell you what, it feels really nice to be out there instead of up in the rafters”.
