The Washington Capitals were officially eliminated from the 2020 playoffs by the New York Islanders on Thursday.
After the game, the two teams continued the greatest tradition in sports, the handshake line, and Capitals players were especially warm towards their former head coach, Barry Trotz.
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Ovechkin and Trotz were captured on camera hugging as the two reached each other. As they wished each other well, Trotz winked at Ovi before moving on to the rest of the players.
When Braden Holtby reached Trotz, the coach and goaltender spent a good minute chatting before moving on.
“Obviously, we had a lot of success when he was here,” Holtby said. “A guy that, myself, I have a ton of respect for,” Holtby said. “He’s an honest guy. I just wished him the best because he’s one of the good guys in hockey.”
Meanwhile, Trotz was sentimental when speaking to reporters afterward.
“I’ve got great emotions in a couple of areas,” Trotz said/a>. “Number one, obviously beating a very good (Capitals) team that’s got so much talent. I’ve had so much invested with that group of core players.”
Emotion then cracked in Barry Trotz’s voice.
“I can’t tell you how much they mean to me,” Trotz continued. “I’m trying to have those same relationships with my group and hopefully, we can share something special. I look on the other side and I see champions. You look at Ovi, Backy, Osh, Braden Holtby, John Carlson, all those guys. Those guys are champions in my mind and always will be.
“It was one of those series, as a coach when you go through a series like that when you’ve had some success with a group of guys, it tears you a little bit because there are so many good memories but at the same time you work for someone else and you want to beat that group because we’re competitive and we don’t want to lose. In all those situations, you’re split sometimes, there’s so much history between the two groups.”
Well-deserved, @NYIslanders.
Best of luck in the Second Round. pic.twitter.com/xjnMYo6eVO— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 21, 2020
Full RMNB Coverage of WSH/NYI Game Five
Screenshot courtesy of Sportsnet/em>
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