The Washington Mystics lead the Connecticut Sun 2-1 in the WNBA Finals and have a chance to win their first championship Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Ahead of Game Four, Nicklas Backstrom, TJ Oshie, and Alex Ovechkin — athletes who all need no introduction — let the Mystics know they are rooting for them in a ridiculous video posted by the Capitals.
The Washington Capitals were on Long Island Thursday to practice ahead of their matchup Friday against their former head coach Barry Trotz and the New York Islanders.
With practice comes dreaded exercise, so Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin jumped on stationary bikes to get their legs warm. And while they were doing that, they posed for a photo that was actually a video.
TJ Oshie has a lot of superstitions to remember before and during games. Oshie already does butt slashes with Tom Wilson (and other teammates too while spinning), his puck juggling routine, his long jump into the tunnel, and his bewildering pregame screamfest with Ovi.
Now there may be a new wrinkle on the bench with Nicklas Backstrom.
It’s been over a decade since Alex Ovechkin called Nicklas Backstrom’s name at the NHL draft and Backstrom joined the team a season later. Now, the two are not only thinking about ending their careers together, but they’re also reflecting on how they started.
Recently, the superstars sat down for a far-ranging Capitals Talk podcast with Rob Carlin.
“He really took me under his wing when I got here,” Backstrom said of Ovechkin’s role in those early years. “[He] drove me around and showed me the city. As a young group of guys we were well-connected on the ice and off the ice.”
By Brennin Weiswerda 4 months ago
Alex Ovechkin has faced down many goaltenders over the course of his NHL career. But when asked by Rob Carlin on the Capitals Talk podcast which current netminder gives him the most trouble, Ovi didn’t hesitate with his answer: Braden Holtby.
With Holtby tying Olie Kolzig for most shutouts in Capitals franchise history last season, as well as becoming the second-fastest goaltender in NHL history to reach 250 wins, it is no wonder Ovechkin finds him difficult to beat.
Ovechkin also discussed some of the players that he, and Nicklas Backstrom, believe are the best in the NHL right now. Oh, and they picked a goaltender other than Holtby for the honor of toughest to beat as well, we guess.
By Donya Abramo 4 months ago
With Nicklas Backstrom entering the final year of his 10-year contract, and Alex Ovechkin in the penultimate year of his own 13-year contract, conversation has naturally turned to whether the duo will be looking to re-sign with the Capitals. With Backstrom already stating that it “felt like it was yesterday” that he signed his last contract, and Ovi wanting to “play until I can’t play,” the pair have dropped several strong hints that they have a desire to remain in Washington.
While on the Capitals Talk podcast with Rob Carlin, Backstrom reiterated his stance that Ovi could catch Gretzky’s record, and Ovechkin also teased that the two could potentially sign their next contracts to expire together.
And what is it they say? Once is luck, twice is a coincidence, three times is a pattern.
By Donya Abramo 4 months ago
Todd Reirden spent four seasons as an assistant coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Washington Capitals’ biggest rival, before coming to DC.
During that time, Reirden says he respected Nicklas Backstrom “a ton” when game-planning for the Swedish center. But Reirden’s admiration went another level when he became his coach.
Reirden made the comments Tuesday to the media when asked why Backstrom does not get more attention for how good of a player he is.
Nicklas Backstrom’s friendship with William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs is one that has been well-documented over the years. Dating back to father Michael Nylander’s time as a Washington Capital, Backstrom and the young Nylander spent a lot of time challenging each other to ping-pong matches. They lost touch after William’s father was traded to the Rangers, but reconnected when William was drafted to the NHL by the Leafs in 2014.
In more recent history, the two interviewed each other in a totally natural and completely candid Sportsnet feature, which was sweet, if a little awkward. But now they’ve topped with with a new interview.
In video posted by NHL Sweden on Friday, Backstrom was back in the interviewer’s chair as he asked Nylander a series of increasingly ridiculous questions, which have been translated to English by RMNB’s Magnus Cadelin. You really need to experience this in all of its wonderful, trolling glory.
By Donya Abramo and Magnus Cadelin 4 months ago
Wednesday night, the Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues played in a preseason game and for 59 minutes and 53.1 seconds, it made sense. There were goals, there were saves, there were penalties, and there was a fight – all normal things that happen in hockey games.
And then on the Capitals’ final shot of the game – everything broke. Nicklas Backstrom heaved the puck from the neutral zone towards Blues goaltender Evan Fitzpatrick. The puck bounced in the left circle on its side, changed directions, and beat Fitzpatrick cleanly through the arm and body.
So what I’m really trying to say is, you guys, Nicklas Backstrom scored the game-winning goal with 6.9 seconds remaining in the game.
It was nice!
During his Media Day interview on Thursday, Nicklas Backstrom was in awe of Alex Ovechkin’s latest off-ice project.
“I just think it’s so cool that he got his own cereal,” Backstrom said. “I haven’t tried it. But I asked him will you bring some, because my kids want some. So, hopefully, I’ll get it for free.”
Well, we can report that just happened.
By Donya Abramo 5 months ago
