The Washington Capitals celebrated TJ Oshie on Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets, honoring their longtime teammate for playing his 1,000th NHL game earlier this month. After missing the last two games with an upper-body injury, Oshie returned to the lineup against Winnipeg and took part in a heartfelt ceremony commemorating the occasion before puck drop.
With so much focus on getting to game no. 1,000, Oshie almost wasn’t prepared for the emotional impact of the celebration.
“I think I was really excited to just get to the number 1,000 and I guess you don’t really think about the support and the love that comes after,” he told Monumental Sports Washington’s Al Koken postgame. “I can’t thank everyone here enough. Everyone that’s reached out on social media, my family sitting up there in the corner, family and friends–I love you guys. What an amazing day that you all have made it for me. So I love you guys. This is a dream come true for me.”
Now 37, Oshie has spent much of the last few years dealing with injury and has already missed 26 games this season. A non-contact injury in game no. 996 pushed his milestone night back even further, and he was still a game-time decision in what ultimately became his 1,000th game.
As he fought time and time again to return to the ice, Oshie had doubts that he’d ever reach his goal.
“There was a couple different instances where I thought that maybe getting to this point was in jeopardy, but through phenomenal support at home: from my wife and kids and close friends…and through chiro in [Minnesota], chiro along the way on the road trip last week, a couple different ones, training staff, teammates, everything, they all made this possible for me,” he told reporters after the win. “It was a tough road and no way could (I) have gotten here alone.”
Oshie was reluctant to hoard the spotlight for himself on his big night, taking time thank his teammates, Capitals staff, and even opposing players for making the moment possible.
“It’s just an absolute pleasure to play here, to be a part of what we have going here from top to bottom: from players, to trainers, to coaches, to management, to the people working behind the scenes and knowing they’re spraying gear already, not even ten minutes after the game. It’s a special place to play and I truly, truly love it and can’t thank them enough.
“Sorry, I’m being a little long winded here, but I’d like to thank Winnipeg as well for coming out and sitting on the bench. I know on a back-to-back, sounds like maybe some tough travel, last thing you want to do is go sit there for eight minutes before the game. So it was a classy gesture by them. I appreciate it.”
Despite all the pomp and circumstance, Oshie remained zeroed in on the game ahead. The Capitals sat just one point behind the Detroit Red Wings before the game and were able to leapfrog them into a playoff spot with a win.
“I did worry that maybe with the day game, the ceremony, that the boys were going to come out maybe a little loose or maybe not as focused as we wanted to be. I’m not going to say we definitely weren’t that, but we found a way to get the job done and get a massive two points. And that was my message to them before the game, is how much I absolutely appreciate all this stuff, but we need to get a win. That is focus number one, so we got it done.”
Oshie played a key role in the Capitals 3-0 shutout win over Winnipeg, notching two assists in the victory to earn First Star of the Game honors. To his teammates, Sunday afternoon was a perfect example of what Oshie can do.
“He’s the definition of a hockey player in my mind,” goaltender Charlie Lindgren told Koken. “Just a guy that goes out and competes as hard as he can every single shift. Obviously everyone in the league respects TJ Oshie, just the way he plays and just the high-character guy. Couldn’t be more proud of him and very happy that he’s my teammate.”
Head coach Spencer Carbery’s also gave Oshie a shoutout in his postgame locker room speech, highlighting his contributions to the win.
“To start off, one more time, on a night where we celebrate one of the greats in the history of this organization. To win in that fashion once again, Sevens. TJ Oshie,” Carbery said to a chorus of applause before players called on Oshie to give a speech.
“Another one?” Oshie asked. “Boys, that was obviously not the first two that we wanted, but we showed our standard in the third period. What a f%#@ W. Thanks for bearing with me through all the ceremonies and jerseys and all the other stuff. I appreciate it. I love you guys. After a couple more words, let’s go have some beers.”
