This article is over 7 years old

Misc. you missed: A hat trick of hugs! And sadness.

by

0 Comments

Share:

The Washington Capitals played the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night in Capital One Arena and lost 7-6 in truly sensational fashion. However! Alex Ovechkin scored a hat trick, and Evgeny Kuznetsov, TJ Oshie, and Andre Burakovsky each netted goals of their own.

In other words: There were very many very good hugs.

For a recap of the hockey terribleness that happened, you can read Mr. Hassett’s excellent recap and Ian’s analysis of the collapse! For everything but the hockey we have this new “miscellaneous you missed” series. Enjoy!

Pregame

Thanks to TV, we can all get a look into the boy’s locker room.

This next bit actually took place during the last Caps/Sharks game but it’s still worth revisiting: Jumbo Joe Thornton checked TJ Oshie in the head with his bum, so Jumbo and Tom Wilson got into a fight about it. It was admirably amicable.

Tom Wilson and Madison Bowey had a much gentler confrontation during the pregame warm-ups and it was adorable as usual.

During the Game

Now let’s talk about how sometimes with Nicke and Ovi it’s hard to tell whether they’re discussing strategy or planning a daring heist. Or maybe for these two there’s not much of a difference?

Friendly neighborhood reminder that Tom Wilson fosters puppies, is good at hockey, and should have gotten a penalty shot on this play.

At least Holtby’s beard looked good.

Some guy named Bradley Beal was there but he doesn’t play hockey so I’m not sure why we care.

HUGS!

Y’all there were SO MANY, let’s get started:

Ovi Hug #1

Ovi doesn’t always go over-arm in his hugs. It seems to happen most often when he has his back against the glass and has enough time to spread his wings while waiting for his teammates to Come Hug Him.

Let’s take a look at this from another angle to appreciate the ease and comfort with which these five team leaders enter into their hug huddle.

Chemistry. They got it.

Ovi Hug #2

Ovechkin and Backstrom are good at finding each other on the ice for goal-scoring and goal-hugs. TJ Oshie is impatient and tries to get Ovi’s attention before Ovi’s hugged Backstrom which is just a rookie move from TJ. I’m worried about him. Is he okay?

Maybe going up again Jumbo Joe and his Jumbo Junk In The Trunk has thrown TJ off his game.

Ovi Hug #3

Ovechkin’s third goal hug of the game was a more subdued undertaking. Kuznetsov’s smooth slide would be better suited to a graceful waltz than these usually exuberant explosions. Ovechkin’s momentum could be the only thing carrying the team through this season and carrying him into this hug. (Only. Backward.)

A second look reveals that Ovechkin was nearly tripped on the hug. The rulebook is unclear about what the punishment for this infraction entails but surely it is severe. Ovechkin barely lets the interruption phase him but it may be the reason why the hug had less chaotic energy than is typical.

Lil Dre Hug

Andre Burakovsky’s goal hug was good because 1) it broke a 14-game goalless streak and 2) he got a hug from his best dad-bro John Carlson.

Timothy Jimothy Hug

TJ Oshie has BDE (Big Dad Energy). Ovi ended up on his knees after getting TJ the assist on this goal, and Oshie comes zooming at him like a happy airplane.

There are many similarities between this hug and Ovi Hug #1. Orlov replaces Kuznetsov, but once Ovi comes to a full upright position, the hug huddle retains the same approximate structure with an extra round of head-pats from Backstrom.

Beautiful Birdman Hug

This is an odd one. Not as odd as Kuzy is as a person but still puzzling.

First off, it barely qualifies as a hockey hug. There is no Holding Each Other Closely involved and young Jonas Siegenthaler is barely hugged at all. They should probably hold a players-only meeting about this.

Kuznetsov almost “aw, shucks, you guys” shrugs himself away from an approaching Tom Wilson but Foster Dog Mom Tom Wilson is used to corralling skittish critters and quickly adjusts his stance. Jakub Vrana then punches him in the abs. After a few respectful-of-personal-space head-pats from Tom Wilson, Kuznetsov skates to the bench.

Sharks Hugs

The incomparable Mr. Oland already did a post on the Sharks’ goals titled “A total collapse” and when you’re in the mood to revel in the pain you should read it. If you want some more Caps hugs here’s a post for National Hugging Day featuring Ovi nearly squishing his teammates with his enthusiastic embraces!

Post-game

The Sharks also had a hat trick and Brent Burns was feeling it.

Did you know that hat trick originated in a totally different sport? Cricket in 1858? They bought a dude a hat with his proceeds, but let’s be honest, unless you’re Braden Holtby adoring fedoras, wouldn’t you rather just get all your winnings?

Full RMNB Coverage of Caps vs Sharks

For bonus content and real-time updates you can follow Brennin on Twitter.

Headline photo: Patrick Smith

Related Articles

RMNB is not associated with the Washington Capitals; Monumental Sports, the NHLPA, the NHL, or its properties. Not even a little bit.

All original content on russianmachineneverbreaks.com is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International – unless otherwise stated or superseded by another license. You are free to share, copy, and remix this content so long as it is attributed, done for noncommercial purposes, and done so under a license similar to this one.

zamboni logo