But on October 5, 2005 that wait was worth it. The Washington Capitals finally returned to the ice at the MCI Center after a one year absence when the 2004-05 season was cancelled due to the lockout. Alex Ovechkin set foot on the ice for his NHL debut with the Capitals hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Ovechkin wasn’t quite “welcomed” into the NHL in his first shift. Instead the 2004 top draft pick broke down the door 37 seconds in, charging in for a hit to Radoslav Suchy behind their net. The impact from the hit ricocheted a beam holding the glass, delaying the game for a few minutes.