The Washington Capitals are facing an anxiety-ridden back-to-back to conclude their 2023-24 season. The two games and scoreboard-watching will likely raise Caps fans’ collective heart rates across the region. If Washington wins both matchups, they will make the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. Anything less leaves their playoff hopes up to chance and chaos.
But don’t put that evil on TJ Oshie. The Capitals forward, the optimistic sickko that he is, spoke to the press on Monday and revealed that he’s absolutely siked about the situation.
“Oh, this is fun,” Oshie said after practice. “There’s zero nerves here.
“It’s exciting to be in this position. There’s obviously been points in the season where it looked like it was going to be a very uphill climb to get to this spot. It’s in our own hands. It’s a playoff feel – Game Seven-type, lose-go-home, win continue. It’s a big challenge but one that you definitely want to be a part of.”
The Capitals, losers of seven of their last 10 games, will first play the Atlantic Division-leading Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena. They will then trek to Wells Fargo Center to conclude their season against the Philadelphia Flyers — a team they’re battling for the East’s final playoff spot.
The Cardiac Caps’ inconsistent play this season has seen them yo-yo in and out of a playoff spot over the last few weeks.
Oshie is no stranger to big games in DC but those games came on dominant Capitals teams that easily made the postseason. With only four players left from the 2018 Stanley Cup championship team, the Caps are navigating this tumultuous path with inexperienced faces on their roster.
“I think there’s definitely some guys on the team that have been here a while and have won and have been in the league a long time that maybe handle it a little easier than some of the younger guys,” Oshie said. “As an older guy, you try to show the young guys how to carry themselves in certain situations. This time of year, when tensions are high, stakes are high – keeping your composure in a lot of those could be the difference between winning and losing.”
Despite the stakes, Oshie said these are the games he will remember most when his career — already spanning 16 seasons — is over.
“In your driveway when you’re a kid, you’re not dreaming about just trying to stay alive and win games to make the playoffs, you’re winning Game Sevens. But, this tonight, is like a Game Seven for us. These moments are what you dream about as a kid. No point in shying away from it. These are the best moments of the season, honestly.”
Oshie has two points (1g, 1a) in two games against the Bruins this season. Monday night’s outing will be his fourth straight in the lineup for the Capitals after sitting out four games to start April. He has one assist in the three games since his return.
Puck drop for the huge game is scheduled for 7 pm inside Capital One Arena.
