The Washington Capitals opened up their season Thursday night with a 6-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, and the team debuted a new postgame ceremony that fans of a certain hit Netflix series are bound to appreciate.
Back in the locker room after the win, first-year Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette introduced a ceremony inspired by “Cobra Kai,” a continuation of the original “Karate Kid” films.
The routine involves presenting headbands/bandanas to two players in recognition of the best offensive and defensive performances of the night.
T.J. Oshie got the nod and the “Cobra Kai” dojo bandana Thursday night for a one-goal, two-assist performance. Brenden Dillon received the “Miyagi Do” bandana for his standout work on defense.
The postgame ritual was shared by the Capitals on the team’s social media channels.
“I was off for a whole year, so I watched every show out there. Every series out there,” Laviolette said, explaining the inspiration behind the postgame ceremony. “The best series by far was ‘Cobra Kai.’ So I thought about it and got this bandana right here for the most offensive player of the game.”
Laviolette then tied the bandana around Oshie’s head. Next came Dillon’s moment in the spotlight.
“Then there’s Miyagi’s camp. That’s strike, first hard,” Laviolette said, pointing to Oshie’s headband. “Miyagi’s all about defense.”
Originally a web series on YouTube, “Cobra Kai” beat the odds and became a runaway hit. The show has since transitioned to Netflix and had its third season premiere on New Year’s Day.
The official Twitter account of “Cobra Kai” even caught wind of the Capitals’ new bit and reacted on Twitter.
The same can be said for “Cobra Kai” showrunner and co-creator Jon Hurwitz.
The Capitals will look to make it two wins in a row — and another “Cobra Kai” ceremony — with the back end of consecutive games against the Sabres on Friday night.
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