Remembering Another Big Debut

by J.P. on Jun 8, 2010 10:00 AM EDT

As Stephen Strasburg gets set to take to the mound tonight to face the Pittsburgh Pirates, Caps fans are undoubtedly reminded of a night back in October of 2005, when their franchise savior played his first meaningful game for them. That game - like so many that followed it - was memorable from the first shift:

For the first time in 550 days, the Washington Capitals played a game that mattered at MCI Center. And it began with a bang, thanks to Alexander Ovechkin.

On his first shift, the future star of the Capitals threw a body check so hard it dislodged the support between two pieces of plexiglass along the end boards, causing a three-minute stoppage of play -- not that the fans minded.

Ovechkin set the tone with that crushing check, then scored two goals in Washington's 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Capitals' first regular season home game since April 3, 2004.

Alex Ovechkin's debut was a memorable one and a sign of the great things to come (even if Michael Wilbon managed to get a shot in on AO for not converting a breakaway). After the game, Ovechkin described his first NHL game:

"I feel excellent," he said in the jammed dressing room after the game, that in itself a rarity for the Caps. "We win game, [my] first game in NHL and we win. So I feel very good. When I go out to ice for first time, I was a little bit nervous, all people screaming, it's amazing."

With any luck, Stephen Strasburg feels the same way tonight. And with any luck Stephen Strasburg does for the Washington Nationals what Alex Ovechkin has done for the Washington Capitals. Best of luck,Strassy.

Update: For more on AO's first game, head over to CSN Washington.

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And with any luck Stephen Strasburg does for the Washington Nationals what Alex Ovechkin has done for the Washington Capitals.

Disappointing early playoff exits?

Rec’d for the stroll down memory lane.

They're coming.

by Bald Pollack on Jun 8, 2010 10:03 AM EDT reply actions

Sad but true.

"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."

by The Ghost of Bebop on Jun 8, 2010 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Disappointing early playoff exits?

Or…

A monumental franchise turnaround lead by the most entertaining player in all of sports, historic regular season performances, (George) Washingtonian leadership on ice and in the room despite a language barrier, and a presence that singlehandedly promises of years upon years of postseason success so assured that it attracts other highest echelon talent to ink decade long contracts.

But yea, disappointing playoffs this year. Fuck that guy.

If Strasburg is made of half of what Ovechkin is made of, he’ll have a handful of Cy Youngs when he hangs em up.

by Bushwood Bushwhacker on Jun 8, 2010 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Hi, I’m snark. Nice to meet you.

They're coming.

by Bald Pollack on Jun 8, 2010 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

BP make a sarcastic remark? Never.

"Do not be afraid to ask for credit, for our way of refusing is very polite."

by Laich It Or Lump It on Jun 8, 2010 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh man, he looks so young!

"It's good to be compared to great players, great teams. But we're not Oilers, we're Capitals."
~Alex Ovechkin

by amkcaps on Jun 8, 2010 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

What’s amazing was how much open ice he had in the slot. Now, he’s got three guys surrounding him every time he heads there.

by b.orr4 on Jun 8, 2010 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

And Knuble in the bakery and Nicky patiently controlling the puck after stapling at least one other forward to the boards.

by EmilyB on Jun 8, 2010 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Same thing struck me.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jun 8, 2010 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

What amazed me

was how un-full and un-red the place looked.

Went to that game with a friend, who said after the goal “he’s going to be a big star for the Rangers or Montreal someday.” Glad that didn’t work out.

by privatewl on Jun 9, 2010 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions

The video reminds me of one feature that I don’t love with the Comcast crew – cutting away from on-ice to show long shots of the crowd reactions. I always want to see more of the players doing their thing. Related: I get that the goalie who just got scored on is going for the water bottle. Don’t really need to see that either.

by EmilyB on Jun 8, 2010 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

I don’t think that’s just Comcast, that’s the standard template for hockey broadcasts. Brief celebration, shot of the crowd, shot of the goalie, shot of opposing coach, (optional: shot of guy exiting penalty box), then back to the skaters high-fiving with the guys on the bench, then do they replay. That’s just how it’s done. They probably have it on auto.

by katzistan on Jun 8, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Dear Pascal Leclaire,

Go retrieve your water bottle (and your pride)….they’re both behind the net.

You just got OVECHKIN’D!!!!!!

by j3rockstar on Jun 8, 2010 10:44 AM EDT reply actions

Amusingly, I recently watched the game as part of the DVD set, it’s really crazy listening to Koken and Locker talk about the potential of Pettinger and how Muir was a great vet pickup. And of course, the other Petr Sykora.

"Yes, but Rimmer Directive 271 states just as clearly, 'No chance you metal ba****d.'"

by apk3000 on Jun 8, 2010 10:47 AM EDT reply actions

Just for giggles...

Caps lineup for October 5, 2005

B. Willsie R 0 0 0 -1 0 1 7:26 0:26 4:02 11:54
7 S. Eminger D 0 1 1 0 2 0 13:18 4:12 0:31 18:01
8 D. Zubrus C 1 1 2 1 0 1 9:23 3:49 4:57 18:09
8 A. Ovechkin L 2 0 2 1 2 5 10:23 6:18 0:55 17:36
10 M. Bradley R 0 0 0 0 2 0 7:08 0:25 1:18 8:51
13 M. Pettinger L 0 0 0 -1 0 2 9:27 0:00 0:00 9:27
15 B. Gordon C 0 0 0 0 2 0 8:23 0:27 6:28 15:18
16 J. Friesen L 0 0 0 0 0 1 6:59 4:27 0:03 11:29
20 P. Sykora C 0 0 0 0 4 2 6:23 3:30 0:00 9:53
20 B. Sutherby C 0 0 0 -1 0 0 10:35 0:00 5:56 16:31
22 J. Halpern C 0 3 3 0 0 2 10:34 4:42 3:03 18:19
25 A. Cassels C 0 0 0 -1 0 0 7:09 5:39 0:00 12:48
26 S. Morrisonn D 0 0 0 -2 0 0 9:49 0:31 3:48 14:08
27 B. Clymer R 0 0 0 0 0 0 8:42 0:06 1:39 10:27
6 J. Heward D 0 0 0 1 2 1 14:00 5:39 8:07 27:46
32 B. Witt D 0 0 0 0 0 1 13:53 0:42 10:09 24:44
34 M. Biron D 0 1 1 -2 2 2 7:43 4:02 3:29 15:14
47 B. Muir

Kolzig

Attendance was 16, 325

I never travel far....without a little Big Star...

Ron and Fez 11 to 3

by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 10:50 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I probably wouldn’t have picked Matt Bradley to last 5 years with the Caps, let alone turn into a cult hero and have his own twitter hash tag.

#savethekittens!
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.

by RedBirdie on Jun 8, 2010 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Attendance was 16, 325

And I think the only game we actually sold out that year was the one against Detroit.

I didn’t think Ovechkin’s performance against the BJ’s was a portent of his future greatness as much as I was just happy to have Hockey back in my life. That would have been a great game even if we got killed.

Tic Tac Toe Hockey -- Original Caps Photography For The Fan With Compromised Standards
Jack Hazard Photography

by turnituptoeleven on Jun 8, 2010 11:01 AM EDT reply actions

reply fail.

Tic Tac Toe Hockey -- Original Caps Photography For The Fan With Compromised Standards
Jack Hazard Photography

by turnituptoeleven on Jun 8, 2010 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Also a nice cameo from Washington Capitals Legend Petr Sykora.

I never travel far....without a little Big Star...

Ron and Fez 11 to 3

by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

The Caps even gave away extra tickets to STH’s for that game (all 17 of us). I had trouble giving my extra away, as I remember.

If you've read this far...seek help.

by ThePeerless on Jun 8, 2010 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Hey! I didn’t get any extra seats for that game! Hey uncle Ted, I have a five year old grievance with you!

Great. Now I have to change my name to "Jaromir meet Alex".

by Chris meet Alex on Jun 8, 2010 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Hey! I didn’t get any extra seats for that game! Hey uncle ~~Ted~~ Paul, I have a five year old grievance with you!

I never travel far....without a little Big Star...

Ron and Fez 11 to 3

by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

? Uncle Paul?

Great. Now I have to change my name to "Jaromir meet Alex".

by Chris meet Alex on Jun 8, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I went. That game made me a caps fan, ovechkin fan, and pay attention to the NHL after a ~10 year hiatus.

by d_fens on Jun 8, 2010 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I was chatting with a Hershey season ticket holder sitting next to me on Saturday, and she said in 2005-6 all season ticket holders were given a free ticket to a Caps game, and maybe the second year, too, to generate interest in the affiliation.

"It's always good to have vikings."

by gfcaps fan on Jun 8, 2010 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s how I got tickets to that game. I had never been to an NHL game before. My dad’s friends had season tickets and gave us their 2 extras. Our seats were behind the net where the Caps shoot twice. We were in the lower bowl, last row. That was the day I got addicted to hockey.

Founding member of the Tyler Sloan Fan Club

by terpgrrl on Jun 8, 2010 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I could have sworn that following that game, Alex Ovechkin said in his broken English, “We win, I score the goals.” Maybe I made that up in my mind, but it was at that moment I knew he’d be a star.

by Alex Reed on Jun 8, 2010 11:37 AM EDT reply actions

It’s in the CSN Washington link: “We win this game, and I scored the goals.”

I believe in JC.

by patred48 on Jun 8, 2010 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Look at the rag-tag collection of fans

Boy it’s a shock to look back and see a few scattered team jerseys of all types and colors when you think about the nearly unbroken sea of red that is home these days.

Great. Now I have to change my name to "Jaromir meet Alex".

by Chris meet Alex on Jun 8, 2010 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

We played the Isles on Veteran’s Day this year. I was walking around the lower concourse, and there was a big, back-lit picture of a previous Isles game. The building was full, and the Caps were wearing their red jerseys, but the fans had not yet begun to Rock the Red. I shook my head in disbelief and walked back into a fully-red stadium.

by EmilyB on Jun 8, 2010 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s funny, I still remember the day my dad got this weird bobblehead of some Russian kid in the mail (…because that’s the kind of thing he does). And when I asked who it was, he said "Alex Ovechkin. We’re taking him with the 1st pick – and you’re going to love him." My dad’s a smart guy ;)

Oddly enough, the first time I remember realizing what he could do was actually about a week before that first game. Anyone else remember the preseason game against the Pens where he scored a hat trick? Granted, preseason doesn’t matter and they were as awful as we were, but still. Good memories.

by Becca H on Jun 8, 2010 12:15 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

you HAVE to post a picture of this bobblehead. it sounds awesome.

#savethekittens!
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.

by RedBirdie on Jun 8, 2010 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I remember it being pretty cool, yes. I want to say it was Ovie in his Dynamo jersey but I could be wrong because I’m a wee bit senile…I think the name was in Cyrillic, too.

My dad’s got it somewhere, I’m sure – I’ll see if he can send me a pic sometime :)

by Becca H on Jun 8, 2010 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes. In fact, they had a shootout after that preseason game (even thought the Caps had won in regulation), just so all the fans could get an idea about what to expect during the regular season. I’ve hated it ever since.

Tic Tac Toe Hockey -- Original Caps Photography For The Fan With Compromised Standards
Jack Hazard Photography

by turnituptoeleven on Jun 8, 2010 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions