Dowd Makes Strong Debut

As the Capitals posed for a team photo prior to Wednesday night's season opener against the Boston Bruins in front the 2018 Stanley Cup banner, the final commemoration of last year's achievement before the new season began, center Nic Dowd respectfully watched his teammates from the bench.
That's because he was on the Los Angeles Kings and the Vancouver Canucks in the 2017-18 season and signed with the Capitals on July 1.

Roughly an hour later, though, Dowd was at the center of the celebration, corralled by teammates after he scored off a turnaround backhand to extend the Caps lead to 4-0 in the second period.
The two moments provided a contrast of images, the latter one representing a clearer picture of Dowd's place on the team.

"We want to make sure that [Dowd] knows that he's a huge part of our team," goalie Braden Holtby said, acknowledging that for Dowd it can be tough to watch all the pregame festivities. "I think that goal was big for him and it was great to see for us. He's a phenomenal teammate and fits right in the mold of who we want here."
Dowd confirmed Holtby's sentiment, saying the coaches and players welcomed him upon arrival, but added that a weight felt lifted with that debut goal.
"A little bit of a monkey off the back, just to start off well with a new organization," Dowd said. "Obviously the whole team played really well [Wednesday]. It was an exciting night for the guys who were a part of this team last year, and they deserve to share that with each other and the city of Washington.
"I honestly can't say it was just another opening night - the energy was super high," Dowd said. "[T.J. Oshie] scored 24 seconds into the game, the crowd was buzzing, probably the loudest building I've been in in a long time. So to put one away was great."

Dowd's signing was a move that perhaps flew under the radar in the height of the cup tour. He played in 56 games last year, the first 16 with Los Angeles before he was traded to Vancouver, where he took on a larger role. He scored three goals with the Canucks and averaged nearly four more minutes on the ice per game (11:34) than he did through the first two months with the Kings (7:57), where he notched one assist.
Dowd, 28, has established himself as a fourth center to a deep group in Washington that includes Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nicklas Backstrom and Lars Eller, a trio that's combined for 362 points the last two years, plus another 101 in the playoffs. Dowd, for his part, notched a goal and an assist in the preseason, impressing coaches enough to earn the fourth center spot.

Against Boston, he was slotted alongside Devante Smith-Pelly and Nathan Walker. That line, which combined for four shots and four hits on opening night, hopes to provide the Caps with a consistent jolt of energy.
Two games and 29 shifts into his first season with the Capitals, Dowd feels fully a part of the team, locked in its quest to repeat. "It's not like they're harping on [last year's Cup], staring in the rear view and reminiscing all the time," Dowd said.

Added Holtby: "He knows he's on the team for a reason. We think he's going to be a big part for us in trying to do it again. Now that the ceremonies and stuff are over, this [is] team that we're [focused on], and he's going to be a big part of it."