WASHINGTON, DC — The Washington Capitals started their post-Olympic schedule with a much-needed win, downing the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 on Wednesday night. In the minutes between the final horn and the team’s media availability, Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” was audible outside the locker room while players celebrated the victory inside.
The song isn’t a new fixture in the room, but Rasmus Sandin gave some details postgame on how it became the team’s pick.
“We switched it after a good little rookie party that we had,” Sandin said. “Shout out to Ryan Leonard. He had a great performance for us. So it’s after that we switched it up.”
Sandin didn’t elaborate on why Leonard was performing for the team or what, exactly, he did. He did, however, have plenty of praise for Leonard’s talent.
“It was fantastic,” he said. “He had a great performance for us. So it was in the beginning of the year. I can’t really remember, but he had a great performance for us. And you guys should ask him next time if he can perform for you guys.”
There was no repeat performance on Wednesday, at least; Leonard was not available to speak to the media postgame. Sandin wasn’t sure of exactly when the song changed, but the Capitals held their annual rookie dinner in Tampa in November.
Spencer Carbery was unaware of the song’s backstory until asked about it postgame. Once told, he seemed plenty intrigued.
“I don’t (know anything),” he said. “I obviously hear it every time. I’m like, ‘That’s interesting,’ because it’s not — usually it’s a newer song. That’s been around for a while…He did, like karaoke? Okay, I’m going to do some digging.”
He later offered his own opinion of Bruno Mars.
“I listen to it,” Carbery said. “I haven’t been to any of his concerts, but I listen. I’m a wide range guy. I go all over.”
More broadly, the Caps saw these sorts of moments as symbolic of their bond.
“I think that’s what’s special about this team, how tight we are,” said Trevor van Riemsdyk. “It’s a lot of fun to come to the rink, and I think it shows itself in these tight games where you can rely on one another. There’s a lot of communication going on, and that’s what it takes.
“I know coming to the rink is a lot of fun. You’re not even trying to get off the ice. It’s just fun hanging out there, going on the ice, competing with one another, having a lot of fun, and I think that’s the recipe. You see all these teams that are super successful; it’s guys that care about one another and love the game.”
Washington will need every point it can get in the final weeks of the season, now sitting two points out of a playoff spot with 22 games to go. Carbery hopes that the team’s bonding rituals, however trivial, will help them remember what they’re playing for.
“They love each other. They’re brothers,” he said. “But you can go through phases and stretches where it’s like, ‘We got to play for one another. You’ve got to make the right play for that guy and that guy. You’ve got to get that puck out, or you’ve got to make that decision that might not be the sexiest decision, but it’s the right play for us to win this game. And you got to do it for him, and you got to do it for him.’
“And so I think that, it’s always been a part of the fabric of our team, but just reminders of, when we get into games like this and finding ways to win, it’s about making that play that that sometimes that requires you to dig in a little bit. And not for yourself, it’s for the group, and it’s for your brothers that are sitting next to you. So it’s a good reminder for our guys.”
