The Capitals had plenty to celebrate with their overtime victory over the Carolina Hurricanes–and celebrate they did. After Brooks Orpik netted the game-winner he was mobbed by the entirety of his team.
According to Braden Holtby, there’s no one the team would be happier to see score the OT goal, and that certainly showed in their response. Here’s the breakdown of the play hug.
The Pile-Up Begins
Orpik started things off at a pretty high standard with this celly. He’s throwing a metaphorical lasso over his teammates…or something like that.
The entire bench was quick to jump to their feet, then onto the ice, and then onto Brooks Orpik.
First to arrive were Christian Djoos, Nicklas Backstrom, TJ Oshie, and Jakub Vrana.
Not everyone had a defense-first mentality–a few players detoured to meet Braden Holtby who was on his way over.
UTTER BEDLAM
THIS! IS! SPARTA! a very enthusiastic group of professional athletes.
The amorphous blob of the Capitals roster traveled towards the Canes goal propelled by the impact of each subsequent player. The blob has high surface tension and some players–even ones as big and good at hugging as Tom Wilson–had difficulty becoming one with it.
While the traditional goalie hug line never formed, Brooks Orpik deserved to be at the nucleus of the hug…oval. Especially with bearhugs from Nic Dowd and Tom Wilson, while nearby noted Batya Stan Jakub Vrana beamed ecstatically.
Buh-bye now
As the Gordian knot of the overtime hug began to unravel Alex Ovechkin found himself blinded by the light his visor.
He didn’t have very far to go. He hung out at the rear of the group, high-fived other players heading off the ice, then chest-bumped and face-washed Orpik.
A very good hug for a very good goal, giving the Caps a 2-0 series lead against the Canes.
Full RMNB Coverage of Game Two
Headline photo: @capitals
