Spencer Carbery’s post-game victory speeches are perfect examples of how to rally a team.
They are fun and honest. They highlight some of the less heralded plays and players in games. There’s mild, yet necessary cursing (for emphasis, of course). And the speeches play into Carbery’s biggest strength — his competitive nature — which brings the team closer together and keeps them hungry for more.
Tuesday, though, Carbery made a rare mistake. But as he showed in the Capitals’ latest locker room video, it’s how you recover that’s key.
The Capitals saw several milestones in the team’s 7-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Aliaksei Protas had his first NHL hat trick, Alex Ovechkin notched a hat trick of assists, and Anthony Beauvillier tallied his first goal as a Capital.
Beauvillier scored his 14th goal of the season with 1:36 remaining to give the Capitals a 6-4 lead. The former Penguins forward poked the puck past a Ducks defenseman and found paydirt on a breakaway.
Carbery highlighted the marker in the locker room, but only after he almost gave Beauvillier’s milestone goal puck to the wrong guy.
“First career hat trick,” Carbery said as he held up what he believed was Aliaksei Protas’s keepsake. The entire Capitals team then rose to give the Belorussian forward a standing ovation. A grinning Carbery walked over, gave Pro a high five and a hug, and then noticed the name written on the side of the puck.
“This is Beau’s first goal as a Washington Capital!!!” Carbery said surprised.
“HEEYYYYYYYYYY!!!” Capitals players responded.
Carbery, with a big smile, moved past Protas to give Beauvillier his keepsake. The two hugged and Beauvillier could be seen laughing.
Folks, as the kids say, this is cinema.
Protas didn’t go home empty-handed, however.
Connor McMichael awarded Protas the team’s gaudy gold chain as player of the game.
“Hell of a job,” McMichael said. “Way to grind that one out. But easy choice tonight. PrPrPrPrPr.”
“What about Roysie??” presumably one of the defensemen said in what has become a running joke.
“Yeah, thank you boys,” Protas said in his acceptance speech. “It’s pretty special and for me, for my family, it’s all because of you guys. Proud to go out there with you every night.”
And before leaving Honda Center, Protas got his milestone puck — well, all three of them — and posed for a PrPrPrPrPr-fect photo.
