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Misc. you missed: Big Dad Energy and long-awaited Holtby hugs

By Brennin Weiswerda

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February 2, 2019 12:03 pm

The Capitals are finally back from the bye week! The All-Star game was much less fun without Alex Ovechkin’s ebullient energy, but he got to rest, swim with dolphins, and spend time with his family. Because that’s punishable by suspension he was not available for Friday night’s game against the Calgary Flames.

So the Washington Capitals played a hockey game without Alex Ovechkin for the first time ever in franchise history and, somehow, won. Two newbies got good hugs, Tom Wilson stepped up in Ovechkin’s absence and became the team’s spiritual and physical hug leader, Kuzy did the Kuzy thing, and Braden Holtby FINALLY GOT THE GOOD GOALIE HEADBOPS HE DESERVES.

Pregame

There was little montage before the game of the team being happy and smiling. It’s cute but it had Ovi in it so also it’s a little hurtful. But GOOD! But hurtful.

There wasn’t much of interest during the game that wasn’t a hug, a fight, or a shenanigan. This is possibly almost definitely due to the absence of Alex Ovechkin who is almost as dynamic off the ice as he is off of it. So here are two non-Ovi moments that deserve more appreciation from previous games.

(SportsNet showed both of these during a spot on the Black Girl Hockey Club. The clips are of Madison Bowey and Devante Smith-Pelly, the Capitals two black players.)

Madison Bowey holds Jakub Vrana’s hand and leads him out onto the ice.

DSP slides onto the other players on the bench like he’s playing human bumper cars and Nicklas “tried to behead Johnny Gaudreau” Backstrom is pleased as punch about it.

Shenanigans

(A point of clarification: There was a BIG fight at the end of this game. But fights are not aggressive hugs, nor are they shady shenanigans. Sometimes holding penalties are hugs! Extended body checks or light tussling can be hugs OR shenanigans! But once there’s punching, blood, and potential for head injuries, it’s not hugs. The incomparable Mr. Oland has an extensive recap of the fight here. Now, back to shenanigans!)

The only question left to answer about Matthew Tkachuk is whether he is an irritant, an agitator, or somehow both. He spent the whole game getting under the skin of the Capitals’ most level-headed dads.

Matt Niskanen’s patience was not endless.

Kinda wish Alex Ovechkin was around for this game. His dad energy seems to be more lawful good. (That is, lawful good in regards to his newest baby child son Sergei. To his wonderful adoptive children who are grown men, he has more chaotic neutral energy. But it’s also Big Mama Energy which we’ll have to get into in a later post.)

HUGS!

First off, did you know RMNB has “I Heart Hockey Hugs” merch now? The illustrious Ms. Cohen has outdone herself with three new designs in time for Valentine’s day.

It comes in men’s cut, women’s cut, baby onesies, coffee mugs, and big soft baggy black hoodies in case you want to indulge in the dichotomy between the softness of hugs and the hardness of your outward demeanor. Shipping is free until the end of Saturday!

Nic Dowd: The “Inadequate Footage” hug

*sigh*

This was probably a good hug. Nic Dowd is a really good hugger. He’s new, so we don’t know a lot about his style of hug yet, but he’s got a big golden retriever named Arlo so he’s got a lot of practice. Happy hockey players are not dissimilar to good dogs.

But look at this. This is all the footage we got, fam. Eight-million angle on the goal, but this is it for the hug. 🙁

Dmitrij Jaskin: The “LET ME EMBRACE YOU” hug

This was Dmitrij Jaskin’s second goal as a Washington Capital (and thus, his second time as the focal point of the family cuddle puddle) and he made the most of the opportunity.

He’s got the skills to be an elite hugger, as indicated by the joy in his face as he beckons his teammates over to him so he can squish them like teddy bears.

Jaskin sharing his excitement with a focused-but-indulgent Brett Connolly was pretty great too.

He also has a very nice smile.

An eminently GIFable man.

Tom Wilson: The “C’mere, babes” hug

Tom Wilson is the best hugger on the Washington Capitals.

Look at this. He waits to close the hug until everyone has arrived and accomodates the needs, fist bumps, and head boops of all the hug participants.

Also has Dmitri Orlov started playing bongos on peoples heads? Is this new?

Good hug energy is contagious. Forget about good nutrition, hugs are what powers a team through the hard stretches of the season.

If you feel differently about the team’s top hugger please present your counter-argument in the form of a powerpoint presentation with at least 43 slides.

Evgeny Kuznetsov: The Solo Hug

Can we just call a celly a solo hug? Is that cool? In a way, it’s in fact a much bigger hug that the group huddle. The scorer is celebrating with the entire arena, with their family at home, and with the essence of joy.

But in another way, it’s. It’s like people who get a cat when they could get a dog. Sure, cats are fine, but. Why would you not get a dog/spend all your time in a group hug. It makes no sense. To each their own, I guess, but…

Hugbest: GOALIE HUG LINE!!!!!

It almost got interrupted by the fighty shenanigans but thankfully, Evgeny Kuznestov (of the “I can celebrate just as well on my own” Kuznetsovs) got things going with a lil headbonk for Braden Holtby.

In Conclusion

Love your goalie, hug your goalie, don’t let Matthew Tkachuk lightly strangle your goalie with his own jersey. (Seriously. “Irritant” or “agitator?”)

And appreciate your goalie, even after they get traded to the Colorado Avalanche.

Bye bye for now fam, see ya Sunday for the brouhaha with the Bruins!

Full RMNB Coverage of Caps vs Flames

Headline photo: @capitals

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