Joe Beninati:
Amna, I’m still shaking. It’s pure adrenaline. And as a professional, you think about these moments and this is a player and this is a hockey team or an organization that’s treated me to these types of moments, Alex for 20 years, the organization going back 30 years.
I’m used to it, but you can’t be conditioned for something like the last three, four days. Friday at Capital One Arena was magnetic. It was as close to Stanley Cup final level buzz as you can get without the apprehension, without the fear of losing. It was a party that was there specifically to see a player get his crowning achievement.
And he almost did it in one night. And then to do what he did on Long Island on Sunday in front of so many Capitals fans who made their way to New York and so many New York hockey fans who recognized the greatness that they were seeing unfold before them, they treated themselves, with the Islanders as hosts, obviously stopping the game for almost 25 minutes to celebrate this man’s achievement — just a tip of the cap to them, a job extremely well done.
But, for me, I don’t know that I will be treated to more exhilarating moments than that. And as a professional, what you’re conditioned to try and do is stay in that moment, deliver it with an adrenaline rush, do it succinctly and get out of the way. And for the most part, I hope we did it well.
