On Tuesday night, as EPIX’s The Road To The Winter Classic began, the Caps began what became the longest shootout in NHL history. The scheduling conflict forced fans to make a difficult decision: reality TV or live hockey. For those who stuck with the live hockey, they got a shootout that went a record twenty rounds, five more than the previous record, which also belonged to the Caps. Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin actually shot twice in the losing effort.
Karl Alzner, Michael Latta, Nate Schmidt, Brooks Orpik, John Carlson, and Tom Wilson all got their first career shootout attempts in the same game.
With all the wackiness on the ice and the game determined not to end, the Caps turned to a late-game baseball tradition to influence the outcome: rally helmets.
It first started with Eric Fehr, Troy Brouwer, and Joel Ward in the 15th round.
A few rounds later, Brooks Orpik scored an absolutely stunning goal in the top of the 17th round.
CSN cut to the Capitals bench, which celebrated as if they had just won game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Wilson, now wearing a rally helmet, screamed and bear-hugged Ward as the bench erupted in cheers.
Even Barry Trotz was having a good time.
The Caps would eventually lose but who cares. I just like the rally helmets.
What a weird, captivating twenty minutes that was. Watch it again here.
