TJ Oshie netted one of the most unconventional goals in his NHL tenure on Thursday night.
During a power play for the Washington Capitals late in the second period, Seattle Kraken goalie Joey Daccord attempted to clear the puck up the middle of the ice while his team was shorthanded. However, his clearance ended up deflecting off Oshie’s left leg, then Daccord’s stick, before finding its way into the Kraken net. This unassisted goal marked Oshie’s 11th of the season and his first since returning from an upper-body injury on March 11.
Reflecting on the goal during the second intermission, Oshie explained to Monumental Sports Network’s Al Koken that he was simply trying to disrupt Daccord’s play, acknowledging that such plays often make for memorable highlights.
What made this goal particularly special was that it occurred against Oshie’s hometown NHL team. Having grown up in Everett, Washington, and played a decade in the Seattle Junior Hockey Association, Oshie remains a fan of Seattle’s professional sports teams, including the NFL’s Seahawks.
With a supportive crowd in attendance for Thursday’s game, Oshie expressed gratitude for the family and friends who came out to watch him play, emphasizing that he would personally thank them after the game.
This season marked Oshie’s second opportunity to play at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, with the first chance coming last season after his attempts were thwarted during the 2021-22 season due to injury setbacks.
The 2-1 victory over the Kraken was significant for Oshie as it coincided with his 999th career NHL game. He looked ahead to reaching the milestone of 1,000 games against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, viewing it as a special moment considering the challenges he faced with injuries in recent years.
Oshie’s goal on Thursday was his 301st in the NHL, solidifying his place as the third-highest goal scorer from the 2005 NHL Draft class, trailing only Anze Kopitar and Sidney Crosby.