Watch: Oshie scores emotional hat trick in 1st game after father's death
Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie scored a hat trick against the New York Rangers on Wednesday in his first game back after his father, Tim, died at the age of 56 earlier in the week.
Oshie completed the feat with an empty-net goal during the 4-2 victory.
A meaningful night and 3rd goal for Oshie pic.twitter.com/vs2LoDEiei
— x - Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 6, 2021
Nicklas Backstrom was one of the first players to share the moment with Oshie.
"I felt like he needed a hug," Backstrom said, according to the Washington Post's Samantha Pell. "I think I told him, 'You're the strongest person I know.'"
Backstrom hugging Oshie 🥺 pic.twitter.com/lZIA94jWt0
— HockeyKot (@hockeykot) May 6, 2021
Oshie was visibly emotional on the bench afterward.
"We are trying to be there for him and take care of him, and he ends up taking care of us," Nic Dowd said.
An emotional TJ Oshie on the bench after scoring a hat trick in his first game since his father's passing pic.twitter.com/zGRfGF2YPP
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) May 6, 2021
Oshie previously delivered a memorable interview after winning the Stanley Cup in 2018, which his father was able to attend in person.
.@TJOshie77 announced that his father passed away this morning.
— theScore (@theScore) May 4, 2021
We’ll always remember T.J.’s emotional message to his father, ‘Coach Osh,’ after the Capitals’ Stanley Cup win in 2018. ❤️
(🎥: @Sportsnet) pic.twitter.com/s8uvuCoyar
With the hat trick, Oshie now has 21 goals and 21 assists in 51 games this season.