TJ Oshie was the final player to leave the Capital One Arena ice on Sunday after the New York Rangers swept the Washington Capitals in four games.
Inside the Capitals’ locker room after the defeat, Dylan Strome revealed to the media that Oshie played Game 4 with a broken hand and that this could have been the winger’s final game.
“He’s a warrior, no other way to describe it,” Strome said. “He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had over these two years. Just the things he needs to do to get his body ready for a hockey game, you guys would be stunned if you saw it. If it is his last game, he’s a hell of a warrior, hell of a guy. Everything you can ask for in a teammate. Guy puts his heart and soul on the line each shift. Played today with a broken hand.”
Despite the injury, Oshie had one shot and three hits in 18:29 of ice time in Game 4.
“All the things that he battled through to get to 1,000 games and his injuries and just trying to help the team get into the playoffs,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said. “I could sit up here and talk for 10 minutes about Osh and what he means to our team.”
Oshie also absorbed a headshot from Artemi Panarin in Game 2, but ultimately returned late in the third period.
During his accomplished 16-year career, Oshie has scored 695 points (302g, 393a) in 1,010 games. He became a Stanley Cup champion in 2018 with the Capitals. The one-time All-Star scored a career-high 33 goals in Washington during the 2016-17 season.
