Outside of winning a Stanley Cup, scoring the game-winning goal to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in any game for a Washington Capital makes them the hero. But what TJ Oshie was able to do Wednesday was remarkable, what legends are made of.
Oshie first got clipped in the face by a high stick from Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta in the first period, causing Oshie to miss the remainder of the period, receiving stitches in the process.
Then in the third period, Oshie was a victim of a vicious high elbow to the face by Evgeni Malkin.
Malkin was ejected from the game and Oshie was sent to the locker room in the NHL’s concussion protocol.
Oshie passed tests and returned to the game. Then with just over one minute remaining in the third with the game tied 1-1, He took a feed from John Carlson and beat goalie Casey DeSmith top shelf for the go-ahead score.
AMERICAN HERO TJ OSHIE WITH THE GAME-WINNER 🙌 pic.twitter.com/RqQgFDybES
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) November 8, 2018
The Capitals held for the 2-1 win over their rivals and Oshie had a moment that will remain in Capitals’ history.
Following the game, Oshie reflected on his eventful night.
On the high stick from Maatta:
TJ Oshie on Maatta's high stick to his eye: "It's concerning right away. Right away you're nervous.. I would say about 20 minutes later, everything settled down. Obviously I had to get stitches. The eye itself started feeling a little bit better so I was able to come back out."
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) November 8, 2018
Surprisingly, Oshie shrugged off the questionable hit by Malkin
Oshie doesn't care what happens to Malkin, thinks he might've been just trying a reverse shoulder. "He caught me there and it is what it is. I passed my concussion test, went out and won the game."
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) November 8, 2018
Beating the Pens is always special, but beating them with all that Oshie overcame it’s sure to rank up there in his favorite moments of his NHL career.
