The pre-game routine the Washington Capitals have in the hallway before a game is well-documented and strange. There’s fist-bumps, yelling, invisible saxophones, and cup-checks. All of which serve to amp up the players just before they hit the ice.

That is, as long as they don’t hit the ice face-first.

Saturday evening in Tampa, Braden Holtby almost ate it while leading the team out onto the ice. Holtby was leading the charge when he tripped. That caused Alex Ovechkin to stumble and then there was a chain reaction.

Video

The newly-found video comes courtesy of Caitlin Manner on Twitter, who captured the Capitals’ oopsie.

The Capitals ended up losing that night 6-3. We’re not saying it’s because of the trip, but hey, Antti Niemi also tripped on his way onto the ice a few years ago and he let in four goals in ten minutes.

It’s just like Holtby said, “As a goalie, especially at the NHL level, it’s such a mind game.”

RMNB’s Cara Bahniuk also captured a flailing Brett Connolly earlier this month as Connolly tripped going onto the ice against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 3.

Headline photo: @CaitlinManner