As unbelievable as it may seem, we are fast approaching the five-year anniversary of the Capitals’ Stanley Cup win. To celebrate, over the next two months we’re going to be taking you on a journey back in time to that magical run – reliving every game, five years to the day from when it was first played.
So strap in for the ups and downs, highs and lows, all leading up to a celebration of the greatest moment in franchise history.
Follow along with all of our “Five Years Ago Today…” recaps here.
The Series:
Eastern Conference Round 1 – Capitals (2) vs. Blue Jackets (7); Series tied, 2-2
[Caps All-Access Game 4]
The Setting:
April 21, 2018 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC
Game in a Nutshell:
The Caps left DC in a 0-2 hole and returned heroes, knotted up at two games apiece. New series. Best of three.
Their first two home games didn’t go so great, so the Caps decided to mix things up and give up the opening goal of the game to the Blue Jackets, with Matt Calvert getting the tally just about halfway through the first period – and for not just a first for their home games but the entire series, the Caps had to play catchup early.
They wouldn’t trail for too long, though. Just a few minutes later, Nicklas Backstrom (you may not be familiar with him but remember that name…he’s going to be important later) put a seemingly innocent shot on net – but not even really on net, just near it – that bounced off the defenseman and up onto Sergei Bobrovsky’s back, then rolled into the goal. Fluke? Yes. Delightful? Also yes.
Onto the second period, where Dmitry Orlov took advantage of a pretty brutal Columbus change to spring Evgeny Kuznetsov, who then took advantage of a pretty brutal Bobrovsky five-hole. 2-1 Caps.
That darn Matt Calvert again, though, stepped in to spoil the celebration just under 90 seconds later on yet another crazy play (legitimately what was in the water bottles that afternoon?). First, T.J. Oshie fumbled the puck at the blue line, and Calvert was off to the races. Then he fumbled the puck in front of Braden Holtby, which was great until he decided to pull out the ol’ spin-o-rama and kind of shovel the puck into the net. Pretty? No. Successful? …unfortunately yes.
In the dying minutes of the second period, the Blue Jackets did what you would think the Blue Jackets had learned, by now, not to do – they put the Caps on the power play. And because this was a magical time when the Caps’ power play could do no wrong, it did only right. Backstrom to Kuznetsov to Backstrom to Carlson to an Oshie tip in front, and the Caps were back on top, 3-2.
Ah, but then…the third period. Not good. The Caps were outshot 16 to 1 – 16 to 1, for gosh sakes – and one of those 16 shots found the back of the net, courtesy of Oliver Bjorkstrand, taking a tip from the Caps and tipping one past Holtby. That was early in those 16 shots, by the way, so the 17:30 remaining of the frame? Butt-clenching time for Caps fans everywhere.
Holtby and the boys held strong, though, and for the fourth time in five games, this game was headed to overtime.
For the first of those four games, we were all relieved to see it.
Just over halfway through the first (and, thankfully, only) overtime, a hero emerged. Remember that Backstrom guy we mentioned earlier? He put himself right in front of the net, and was in perfect position to tip another point shot past Bobrovsky (this time off the stick of Dmitry Orlov) for the win, the chaotic celebration, and the series lead.
Of all the games in this series, this was probably the one the Caps most deserved to lose…but they didn’t, because the hockey gods (and Nicklas Backstrom) wouldn’t allow it. At the end of the day, they don’t ask how, they just ask how many.
And how many wins for the Caps? Up to three.
Condensed Game:
Defining Moment:
The legend himself called game. His teammates were mildly pleased.
They Said It:
“I won’t have to say a damn word to them. We’ll be back here for Game 7.” – John Tortorella
“What else are you going to say? That’s good. He wants to get it out there he believes in his team just as I believe in my team. It’s our job for that not to happen.” – Barry Trotz
“We came out as a new team in overtime.” – John Carlson
“Nick Backstrom was outstanding tonight. He’s a big-moment guy and he got it done.” – Barry Trotz
“We’re just trying to make little adjustments here and there, trying to execute a little better, trying to mentally prepare a little better and waiting for our opportunities. In order to win a playoff series, you need to keep making those little adjustments and pile them all together and keep pushing forward.” – Braden Holtby
Also five years ago… this, the first of many chills-inducing videos to emerge from the magical 2018 run:
Additional reading:
- Backstrom Puts Jackets’ Backs to Wall with OT Winner [Vogs]
- ‘High five for Washington’: Capitals capture Game 5 in overtime, lead Blue Jackets 3-2 [WaPo]
- By the numbers: Analyzing Blue Jackets vs. Capitals Game 5 [The Athletic ($)]
- Jeff Rimer & Jody Shelley break down Game 5, look ahead to Game 6 [Fox Sports (video)]
Backstrom scored as one of my best buddies from high school was saying I Do. Sorry (not sorry) to say I had my phone out and got the update.
I recall the Post doing an article about how that Mumford & Son song became the soundtrack of the Cup run, but for me it will always be the music from that “Our City. Our Team. Our Time” video. Still gives me chills.
Have not seen that video in awhile. Good grief is it good to this day.
Tortorella doing his best Mike Babcock. Worked out about the same for him, too.
Classic Backstrom!
“ because the hockey gods”
The story of the Caps. But finally the gods were smiling at the Caps.