Monday night at Nationwide Arena, the Washington Capitals eliminated the Columbus Blue Jackets from the 2018 postseason in six games.
As the clock struck zero and the final horn sounded, the Caps and Jackets congratulated their goaltenders and then regrouped at center ice. It was there that the two teams engaged in one of the greatest traditions in sports: the handshake line.
The most notable interaction happened between goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and Dmitry Orlov.
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Earlier in the night, Orlov started Game Six’s scoring with a heavy shot from the top of the circles that overwhelmed Bobrovsky deep in the crease.
The goal marked Orlov’s first playoff goal of his career and it was especially significant because he scored against Bob.
Orlov and Bobrovsky both grew up in Novokuznetsk, Russia, and ended up playing together on their hometown KHL team, Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Since then, the two NHLers have become even closer and vacation together.
At the end of the game, there was no love lost between the two despite the goal. They hugged in the handshake line.
Bobrovsky even gave Orlov a wink and a smile.
Via Natural Stat Trick, Orlov finished the series as the team’s best possession player among defensemen at five-on-five (52.8 percent), despite going up the Blue Jackets’ best players all series long. Orlov was on the ice for seven even-strength goals for and nine against.
I'm just glad Orlov and Bobrovsky get to be friends again. pic.twitter.com/LVF4sealsl
— playoff sporps (@OVECHKlN) April 24, 2018
Other highlights from the handshake line include:
TJ Oshie went first.
A hard-fought series.#CBJ | #MarchOn pic.twitter.com/GX0k0Nla8c
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 24, 2018
John Tortorella’s kind words for Barry Trotz.
Alex Ovechkin shaking hands with fellow countrymen, Artemi Panarin and Bobrovsky.
Handshakes between the two Vezina Trophy winning goaltenders.
Much respect. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/LWiqHLgbx6
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 24, 2018
A jerseyless Tom Wilson giving pounds to Jay Beagle and Orlov.
Here’s NBC Sports Washington’s footage of the handshake line.
🤝#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/9ikgwfbZa4
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 24, 2018
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