The Washington Capitals’ 6-4 win over the LA Kings offered up a cornucopia of goals and goal hugs. Christian Djoos was universally adored, Jakub Vrana and Madison Bowey did a chicken dance, and Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin competed for Tom Wilson’s affection.
For a look at the hockey that happened, Ms. Bailey has a perfect recap of a perfect sendoff. Now let’s look at everything else!
Pregame
Nicklas Backstrom brought a Djoos jersey on his runway walk to the locker room. Christian Djoos would later score his first goal of the season. Coincidence, or black magic? You be the judge.
It was Pride Night at Capital One Arena and one fan brought a lovely sign that reads “Everyone Deserves Love” on a rainbow background. The sheet of paper attached to the sign adds an important exception to the rule.
There was also a hand-drawn “Djoos is Loose” sign based on Ms. Bahniuk’s design which can be found in the RMNB store!
We already knew that Madison Bowey and Jakub Vrana hold hands as they walk onto the ice for warm-ups. Apparently, they also do this in the hallway beforehand.
It’s a…chicken dance? Maybe?
TJ Oshie and Nic Dowd’s ritual is somehow even weirder.
TJ Oshie and Nic Dowd have a pregame ritual that involves a boob jiggle. pic.twitter.com/ai56hfVtLd
— b. (@youripides) February 12, 2019
HUGS!
Obviously, all hockey hugs are good, beautiful, perfect, and unique, but we’re going to skip the first two and jump into the good stuff.
…okay fine here’s one of them but only because Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov’s hug fatigue comes up again later. Here they are celebrating the game’s opening tally from Ovechkin on the powerplay.
The “Race You to Tom Wilson” Hug
Evgeny Kuznetsov scored on an assist from Wilson and was very excited to hug Wilson about it. But Ovechkin caught Kuzy by the back of the jersey as he swung around the back of the net, and the centrifugal force brought them all together simultaneously.
ovi was not about to let kuznetsov get to canadian hug mom tom wilson before he does pic.twitter.com/rdQq6b9mMZ
— b. (@youripides) February 12, 2019
Tom’s legs almost slid out from under him but he recovered admirably and happily yelled in Kuzy’s face for a while.
don't worry. tom wilson has enough hug energy for everyone. pic.twitter.com/Q0y9RJDjh5
— b. (@youripides) February 12, 2019
The “DJOOOOOOS!!!!!!” Hug
Admittedly, there was already a DJOOOOOOS!!!!!! hug in the Panthers game miscellaneous recap. But there’s really no other way to describe the way Djoos’s teammates react to him in a hug.
djoos's first goal of the season. his teammates love him so much. batya can't get to that hug fast enough. tom may never let him go. ovi's mama energy is incandescent. everything is beautiful. pic.twitter.com/7Z2cnbn7fU
— b. (@youripides) February 12, 2019
Ovechkin is never happier than when he’s celebrating a teammate’s achievements, but especially when it’s Christian Djoos.
Before Djoos was called up from the AHL, Ovechkin used to repeatedly ask members of the Caps organization: “How’s Djoos doing? When’s Djoos coming up?”
ovi was so happy about his mini!nicke hug pic.twitter.com/C1p0WTPHPQ
— b. (@youripides) February 12, 2019
And this time Djoos wasn’t just part of the hug he was the initiator of the hug, with a beautiful one-handed goal.
The “Existential Crisis” Hug
Jakub Vrana scored a goal and looked absolutely miserable about it.
John Carlson and TJ Oshie both checked up on their young Czech, but to no avail. And while neither Oshie nor Ovechkin seemed overly concerned on the bench afterward, someone should probably fetch Vrana a juice box (a Djoos box) or a puppy or Madison Bowey ASAP.
The “Top Line is Tired” Hug
Kuznetsov scored, again, but this time with an assist from Ovechkin. It was the third goal hug of the night for both of them and the second for Tom Wilson. Mr. Oland has insights about the hockey behind these top line hugs.
Their velocity going into the hug is slower than the “Race You To Tom Wilson” hug, but the fatigue is most noticeable in the upper body movement.
It’s less of an enthusiastic embrace and more of a friendly flop.
The “Goalie Head Bops” Hug
Caps win! Copley hugs!
Evgeny Kuznetsov looked rather subdued as he bopped his helmet against Pheonix Copley’s, but was extraordinarily pleased after getting a headpat from Nicklas Backstrom.
In conclusion:
DJOOOOOOS!!!!!!
Photo: Patrick Smith
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps vs Kings
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