Capitals honor Oshie's father with helmet sticker

The Washington Capitals honored Tim Oshie on Wednesday. Then T.J. Oshie delivered a performance for the ages.

Oshie scored a hat trick just a day after his dad died, and while he and his teammates wore helmet decals honoring his father in the Capitals 4-2 win against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

The Capitals donned the black circular stickers with "COACH" in white uppercase print. Tim Oshie, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2012, was called "Coach" by everyone, including his son.

T.J. Oshie rejoined the Capitals after missing Washington's 6-3 win Monday while traveling to Seattle, Washington to see his father before he died. He scored Washington's first two goals before capping his fifth career three-goal game with an empty-net goal in the third. He appeared to tear up on the Washington bench after his third goal.

Capitals forwards Nicklas Backstrom, Nic Dowd and Anthony Mantha were among those who consoled Oshie after.
"I saw he got emotional there at the end, which is understandable," Backstrom said. "I felt like he needed a hug. I think I told him 'You are the strongest person I know.'
"It's got to be so tough. I can only imagine. ... We are a family. We are in this together. His loss is everyone's loss. We feel for him."
"To go through what he went through and to want to be back here, get with his teammates and play and to play a game for Coach and to the game that he played, outstanding," Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. "It says a lot about him and what he means to this team."
Oshie shared his gratitude for the Backstrom's and the rest of the Capitals' support after the game.

After Oshie was traded to Washington by the St. Louis Blues in 2015, "Coach Oshie" quickly became popular among the Capitals at their annual mentors' trip. Oshie shared an emotional moment with his father on the ice after Washington won the Stanley Cup in 2018.
Having Alzheimer's made it difficult for the elder Oshie to travel, but he made it to Las Vegas to see the Capitals' championship-clinching 4-3 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.

"What a great human being. What a great man. What a great father," Oshie said that night. "Some things slip his memory these days. But this one, I think this one's going to be seared in there. I don't think any disease is going to take this one away from him."