“Unbelievable Twist: How Alexander Ovechkin’s Miracle Goal Defied All Odds and Captivated Fans Worldwide”
But “buzz” doesn’t translate to wins. On the ice and in the standings, the 2005-06 Capitals weren’t doing much winning. The team joked that they were eliminated from the playoffs in October, or that they should hang black curtains over the unused upper deck of what was then called the MCI Center.
By mid-January, the Capitals were 13-24-5, stumbling through a six-game losing streak. But the Caps got a rare win over Anaheim on Jan. 14, a Friday night, thanks to an Ovechkin hat trick — his 28th, 29th and 30th goals, for the record. With a free weekend, the veterans decided to hold the team’s Rookie Dinner. At that dinner, Halpern recalls players hollering “One more year!” at former captain Brendan Witt, who was on a one-year deal. (He would be traded to Nashville two months later.) It was a rare moment of joy in a slog of a season. Next up: Phoenix.
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