Nicklas Backstrom

Alex Ovechkin scored the decisive shootout goal in the fifth round. The Capitals have one of the deepest shootout rosters in NHL history.

After acquiring Ilya Kovalchuk in a trade, the Washington Capitals have arguably the most talented shootout roster since the league added the skills competition to games during the 2005-06 season.

For instance, Todd Reirden opted not to ice the two greatest offensive players in franchise history, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, as one of the top three shooters and for good reason.

Reirden, instead, penciled in TJ Oshie, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Evgeny Kuznetsov who have all had long records of shootout success throughout their careers. Oshie has scored the fifth most shootout goals in NHL history (44) and the second-most game-deciding goals (20). Kovalchuk has scored the 18th most shootout goals in NHL history (30) while Kuznetsov is a career 41.5 percent shooter. Oshie and Kovalchuk were also the two marathon shooters in the eight-round USA-Russia shootout in the 2014 Sochi Olympics (see bottom).

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By Ian Oland 11 months ago

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Nicklas Backstrom’s fiery comments during intermission helped turn the Caps-Avs game around. ‘When he talks, everyone listens.’

The Washington Capitals entered Pepsi Arena’s visitor’s locker room down 2-0 at intermission. The Caps, who had given up 12 goals combined in consecutive losses to the Flyers and Islanders, were still scuffling and after 20 minutes of play, looked primed to be blown out again.

And that’s when, according to the players, one of their soft-spoken leaders addressed the room: alternate captain Nicklas Backstrom.

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By Ian Oland 12 months ago

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Nicklas Backstrom and Radko Gudas skate with over 100 special-needs children during 10th annual Dreams for Kids skate

For the tenth consecutive year, the Washington Capitals hosted a hockey clinic with Dreams for Kids, an organization that hosts special events to empower children with physical and developmental disabilities. This year, Capitals Nicklas Backstrom and Radko Gudas skated with the over 100 kids and young adults at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.

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By Elizabeth Kong 12 months ago

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Nicklas Backstrom’s fiancée Liza pregnant with family’s third child

The Washington Capitals have made public that Nicklas Backstrom’s fiancée Liza is pregnant with the family’s third child. The couple already has a son, Vince, and a daughter, Haley.

The notoriously private Backstrom let cameras into his home the day of his contract-signing press conference to film a feature called Beyond Hockey. The video opens with Backstrom facing off with Vince on the hardwood floors. “(No), you’re cheating,” Backstrom says as he hooks and elbows his son. Eventually, Vince rifles a shot into the back of the baby net.

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By Ian Oland 12 months ago

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The Capitals’ bench bounce was captured on camera again

To start a new period of play, TJ Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom have a superstition where they slide into each other on the bench.

Before the bye week, NBC Sports Washington cameras noticed that Radko Gudas and Brendan Leipsic have now joined in on the fun too.

Against the Canadiens, we learned that the four-player bench bounce has continued.

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By Ian Oland 12 months ago

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TJ Oshie, Nicklas Backstrom, Brendan Leipsic, and Radko Gudas do synchronized hops before start of third period

TJ Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom have a superstition where they slide and hop into each other on the bench to start a new period of hockey.

It’s a wonderfully dumb superstition and two new Capitals players joined in on the fun Thursday against the Devils: Brendan Leipsic and Radko Gudas.

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By Ian Oland 1 year ago

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Ryan Zimmerman became a goalie for a day to fulfill a bet with Nicklas Backstrom three years ago (Video)

World Series champion Ryan Zimmerman traded in his bat for a blocker pad and took shots from the Washington Capitals after practice Wednesday.

We didn’t understand why Zimmerman randomly showed up to MedStar Capitals Iceplex and played goalie until now. It was to fulfill a bet with Nicklas Backstrom.

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By Ian Oland 1 year ago

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The most important piece of media to come out of the Nicklas Backstrom re-signing news

Was this amazing TikTok the Washington Capitals made featuring Nicklas Backstrom’s morphing, time-lapsed face set to the Backstreet Boy’s Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).

Enjoy.

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By Ian Oland 1 year ago

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Nicklas Backstrom mentored Capitals prospect Connor McMichael during Training Camp

Capitals prospect Connor McMichael is having a breakout season. Not only did he secure gold with Team Canada at 2020 World Junior Championship over the winter break, but he’s also racking up goals and points with the London Knights of the OHL at a blistering pace, including four hat tricks.

As it turns out, McMichael also has a very important mentor on the Capitals roster: recently re-signed star centerman Nicklas Backstrom.

Capitals head coach Todd Reirden revealed the influence that Backstrom had had on McMichael when speaking to the media following practice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Wednesday.

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By Donya Abramo 1 year ago

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Alex Ovechkin asked Nicklas Backstrom about his contract negotiations every day. They hugged when he re-signed.

Alex Ovechkin, a potential unrestricted free agent in 2021, was very interested in the progress of Nicklas Backstrom’s contract negotiations with the Washington Capitals during the season and for obvious reasons. The two close friends have had a historic amount of success together in the NHL and would like to finish their NHL careers together. “Nicky and I would love to stay,” Ovechkin said during the preseason.

According to Backstrom, Ovechkin was persistent in getting inside information and updates from the Swedish center on things were going. Backstrom represented himself during the negotiations.

“Ovi came up to me every day since me and Mac started talking and asked me, ‘How’s it going? Any progress? Any progress?'” Backstrom said during a press conference at Capital One Arena to announce his signing. “It’s been like that every day.”

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By Ian Oland and Donya Abramo 1 year ago

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