Oshie of Capitals keeping busy at home with expanded family

T.J. Oshie has experienced a lot of big moments with his family since the NHL season paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

The Washington Capitals forward witnessed the birth of his son Campbell on March 16, helped 6-year-old daughter Lyla learn to ride her bicycle and has watched 3-year-old daughter Leni learn the alphabet.

But as Oshie has enjoyed the extra time at home, he said he also wants to get back to work.

"I miss the competition the most," Oshie said Monday. "I'm a competitive guy. Whether we're throwing tape balls into the garbage can in the locker room or we're on the ice playing in a playoff game, I like to make competitions out of things and have games and try to beat people. You've got to let the kids win every once in a while. Can't do that all the time here."

Oshie said he remains hopeful the NHL season will resume and the Capitals will have the chance to pursue their goal of winning the Stanley Cup for the second time in three seasons. After winning the Cup for the first time in 2018, Washington lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference First Round last season and has been driven by the potential opportunity for another Cup run.

The Capitals (41-20-8) lead the Philadelphia Flyers by one point and are in position to finish first in the Metropolitan Division for a fifth straight season. Oshie said he would love to have the opportunity to complete what they started wherever and however the games are played.

"I want to play," Oshie said. "It doesn't necessarily matter too much to me where it is. … But with our team and with just how much effort, not only us and myself personally, but everyone in the League puts forth during the regular season, all the blocked shots, all the injuries, all that stuff, that all is geared toward getting in the playoffs and having a chance to raise the Cup, and to not have that be a possibility is a hard pill to swallow.

"So, if it's neutral site (games), if that's what you have to do to have a chance to win a Cup, I'm all for it."

Oshie, who is second on the Capitals this season with 26 goals (forward Alex Ovechkin has 48), said he doesn't think it would take him long to get back into playing condition if the NHL is able to restart the season. The 33-year-old said he trained for the first two weeks after the season was paused as if play was going to resume quickly. His regimen has changed since then, but even without ice time, he said he thinks he'd be ready to play in a playoff game in about a week.

"Obviously it's a lot like the offseason, really, except for we don't have access to skating or training with other either teammates or buddies or whatever it is," Oshie said. "Honestly, it feels a lot like the summer. (We) just aren't allowed to really leave the house."

Oshie's house has been busy since Campbell's arrival, and he said he appreciates everything his wife Lauren does even more, calling the players' wives, "the MVPs of the household, for sure." With schools closed, helping teach his daughters is another responsibility added to his list.

"Just the patience and everything, it's something that was definitely an adjustment for me," Oshie said. "It's easy when you come in for three or four days and kids are at school and you're taking them to soccer practice and tennis lessons, all that stuff. But when you're full-time, you've really got to pay attention and have patience with the things that they're learning. Teaching how to read isn't the easiest thing.

"Lauren does such a good job with that and something that I definitely need to work on and have been getting a lot of practice lately."

But Oshie said he's loved having the extra time with his children that he normally wouldn't, and they've been happy to have him at home instead of on the road for a playoff series. Lyla and Leni each stopped by to say 'Hi' while Oshie was talking to the media during a video conference Monday.

"The girls are very excited that I'm not at hockey," Oshie said. "We have fun when we're at home and I'm a pretty positive guy. I really think I've taken advantage of this time of being home. The last year, or even couple years, I feel like our travel's been pretty crazy, kind of tough, a lot of ins and outs. I feel like I haven't been home as much, so it's been great being here."

Still, Oshie said he can't wait back to get on the ice.

"With the schooling and Cam being here, I'm probably more busy now than I ever have been," he said. "So, playoffs will probably be a little bit of a break."