The Washington Capitals are coming off two impressive wins against the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks, respectively. Over the course of those two games, you can point to the depth scoring, or the strong goaltending for the Caps’ success in those contests.
However, one player has stood out and has been a force to be reckoned with on every shift. After missing six consecutive games due to an upper-body injury, which he sustained against the Edmonton Oilers, T.J. Oshie has played like a bull in a china shop since he returned to the lineup against New York.
He has been all over pucks trying to force turnovers and creating chances, which is a huge reason why the Capitals came away with four points over the weekend.
“He can do so many different things night in and night out. He’s unbelievable at just being an unreal team guy. He’s good on the power play [and] he kind of chips in whenever he needs to with anything really,” Dylan Strome said after the game against Chicago. “He scores goals, sets up plays and obviously makes big hits. He’s a huge part of our team and everyone’s happy he’s back and that was a great play to pretty much set up a goal.”
No play was talked about more during Sunday’s win than Oshie’s big hit on Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic, which essentially set up Nic Dowd’s first goal of the game to make it 3-1 Caps. That play turned the tide in Washington’s favor for the rest of the game.
Stromer’s 11th goal of the season
Eddy’s first point as a Cap pic.twitter.com/5j0micYafZ— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 11, 2023
“Tons energy on our bench from a play like that, that creates the goal but just the physicality part of it, and that’s what [Oshie], as the added part of it, is a skill guy that can score that does things like that and finishes a check like that, that gets everybody excited,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said.
Throughout his tenure in Washington, Oshie has been riddled by injuries, which have forced him to play without that physical edge he has been known for on a night-to-night basis. This was primarily due to back issues, but after undergoing a non-invasive procedure last spring, the 36-year-old said that he “felt like his old self”.
Though he went the first 16 games without scoring a goal, and then had the injury against the Oilers, Oshie had been getting his fair share of looks, but they just have not found the back of the twine. Against the Rangers, he had seven shot attempts and two scoring chances. In Sunday’s win against the Hawks, he had two scoring chances and four shot attempts.
Beyond his production, he is a crucial component to the Caps’ locker room, serving as a leader both on and off the ice, along with showing off some entertaining pregame handshakes with teammates.
Oshie will look to continue to bring his rugged skillset to broadstreet, when the Capitals take on the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, Dec. 14 at Wells Fargo Center.
By Jacob Cheris