Last week, 2016 Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby said Carey Price would be the “smart choice” to start in goal for Team Canada. If Canada actually turns to Holtby during the World Cup of Hockey, Caps winger and Team USA member TJ Oshie just gave him something extra to think about – especially during the shootout.
“I actually just brought a couple new [shootout moves] out here today,” Oshie said to NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti after an informal practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on Wednesday. “I’ve got to try to get in his head just in case.”
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Oshie, who achieves his shootout success by using many different variations of the same move, went four for six last season in the skills competition.
His four goals tied him for third overall in the league, while only two other players scored at a higher clip than Oshie’s 67% with six or more attempts: Aleksander Barkov (83%) and Brandon Pirri (83%).
The Minnesota native became a household name in 2014 when he single-handedly beat Team Russia in the Sochi Olympics. Oshie scored four goals in six attempts on goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky in a 3-2 shootout win against Russia.
“That was one of the more special moments of my career for sure, but hopefully I can be remembered for more than just a shootout when it comes to USA Hockey,” Oshie said. “I was kind of playing in more of a grinder, support, penalty-kill role in Sochi. I didn’t get too much ice time, so hopefully I can have a good camp here and get some more [ice time] and show some of my offensive abilities as well.”
Oshie even received congratulations from Barack Obama.
Congrats to T.J. Oshie and the U.S. men's hockey team on a huge win! Never stop believing in miracles. #GoTeamUSA -bo
— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) February 15, 2014
@WhiteHouse thanks for taking the time to reach out to me and my teammates. We appreciated the support!! #honored #USA
— TJ Oshie (@TJOshie77) February 28, 2014
The two-week World Cup of Hockey tournament will begin September 17 and last until October 1. Oshie’s US team, also featuring John Carlson and Matt Niskanen, will face Finland for a pre-tournament exhibition game on Sept. 13 at Verizon Center.
Headline photo: Bruce Bennett
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