Hey Scarlet Caps!
With the year coming to an end, I thought I would take the time to reflect back on a few of my favorite Caps moments from 2016. It was quite a year, as the Capitals shattered team records, and won several individual player and coach awards. So... let's take a walk down memory lane one last time before 2017 is upon us. Here are a few of my favorites from the last 12 months:
1. Braden Holtby tied Martin Broudeur's single season wins record, with 48 W's-wow! What an amazing accomplishment, something I don't ever think I will see again in my lifetime. These 48 wins will go down in the history books, and will be something that Caps fans and me alike will be talking about for years to come. And…at the end of June, at the NHL Awards Ceremony, Holtby won the Vezina, becoming the third Caps goalie to ever to win this award.
2. Niklas Backstrom made it to his first NHL All Star Game (finally!) After eight long seasons, his recognition was long overdue. He is considered one of the best two-way players and continues to impress game in and game out. And I think before it's all said and done, he will capture a Selke Award as the best defensive forward in the NHL. With that being said, he deserves to make it back to the All Star game, so be sure to vote for him and your favorite Caps players at www.washingtoncaps.com/vote!
3. Alex Ovechkin scored his 500th goal, becoming the first ever Russian born player to achieve this milestone. What's even better, is that Ovechkin sniped this goal home from his wheelhouse in front of his mom, dad and 18,000 plus fans/friends (including me!) ROCKIIN' THE RED at Verizon Center. From the entire team jumping on the ice, to the standing ovation, and the thunderous applause, it will be a moment in Caps franchise history that we will never forget!
4. Last but not least, my personal favorite… Justin Williams caught on camera dancing to Cotton Eye Joe in between shifts, reminding us that the game is still fun (well, it was more like a few shoulder shrugs than a dance). But ever since he arrived in D.C., he has brought a tremendous amount of veteran leadership to the lineup, and his presence in the locker room, on the ice (and even at picture day) never goes unnoticed.
