Caps new postgame tradition features a Viking shield and ax originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
When coach Peter Laviolette won his first game behind the Capitals bench last season, he brought a new postgame tradition handing out "Cobra Kai" bandanas to the team's offensive and defensive players of the game.
Laviolette then opened the 2021-22 campaign with a fresh slate and a new tradition.
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Cue the intimidating medieval Viking music.
A couple young guns were given the distinguished honor of handing out a shield to the Caps' defensive player of the game and an ax to the offensive player of the game.
Defenseman Martin Fehervary bestowed the shield to Vitek Vanecek for helping keep the Rangers' offense at bay with 23 saves in Washington's 5-1 win. But the story of the night was always going to be centered around No. 8.
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Following his first professional goal, rookie Hendrix Lapierre awarded Alex Ovechkin an ax for producing a game-high four points (two goals, two assists). Ovechkin's two goals helped him leapfrog Marcel Dionne into fifth place on the league's all-time goals list.
Taking off the ax cover, Ovechkin discovered the ax was, in fact, quite sharp. It turns out Ovechkin was even sharper in the 17th season opener of his career.
