Photo: Brian Babineau
Washington Capitals forward TJ Oshie is one of the most electrifying players in the NHL. Coming into Saturday’s game against Boston, Oshie had tallied points in three consecutive contests (five points), which included a three-assist night against the Toronto Maple leafs. Oshie did not record a point against the Bruins, but he did make one of his most remarkable plays of the year.
Early in the third period, Oshie forced a defensive-zone turnover by David Krejci. Then he drove to the net and there’s where the pure insanity happened.
Let me summarize all the tiny things that happened here in a span of three seconds.
- As Oshie turns towards the net on his backhand, he loses an edge and falls to the ice on one knee.
- David Krejci looks to hit Oshie. Oshie tosses the puck through Krejci’s legs back to himself.
- Matt Beleskey crosschecks Oshie in the top of the back. As he’s careening forward, Oshie reaches out to regather control of the puck.
- Oshie dekes to his backhand while on his knees.
- Oshie lets loose a rocket of a shot from his backhand while still on his kneees.
Tuukka Rask would catch the puck with his glove, which was a real pity. If Oshie would have scored, it would have likely been the goal of the year in the NHL.
Here’s a few more replays of the play.
Simply put: Oshie is able to do things on his knees that most players can’t do on their skates.
Thank you, Based Oshie, for being you.
Oshie Things #CapsNYR morning skate. https://t.co/4t68h31FRU
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 4, 2016
