After Ovechkin's Big Night, One Surprise Face Blows Up the Room

On Wednesday, the Capitals had already banked two points in a 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets, their fifth victory in six games, when the room really lit up.

Spencer Carbery's postgame speech hit the usual notes, praising John Carlson, Jakob Chychrun, and McMichael for the goals that pushed Washington to a 13-9-2 start.

Then he pivoted to something bigger, talking about how this group is finally playing the right way and actually getting rewarded for it.

As Carbery wrapped up and walked out, Tom Wilson's mock Russian accent cut through the noise, calling for «BOG-DAHN,» with McMichael asking where he was.

Trineyev, still in a suit after only taking warmups in his new number 87, stepped into view, waved shyly, and the room exploded with «BOGEY» chants.

Trineyev is not some token call-up to stand around for photos. The 23-year-old winger has six goals and six assists in 15 games for Hershey this season, after posting 22 points in 62 games and helping drive back-to-back Calder Cup runs.

Drafted 117th overall in 2020, he earned a one-year, two-way deal last spring by quietly turning into one of the Bears' most reliable power forwards.

At six-foot-three with a right shot and a heavy forecheck, Trineyev profiles as exactly the kind of bottom-six worker Carbery loves, especially with Nic Dowd on injured reserve.

He already kills penalties in Hershey and has shown touch around the net, including a preseason goal in Boston.

Maybe he goes back to the Bears once Dowd is ready and this becomes a fun trivia note in a long career.

But for one night, Bogdan Trineyev got a roaring preview of the NHL life he has been grinding toward for years, and the room made it clear they expect him back.