The Capitals decided to bring back the black Reverse Retro screaming eagle jersey for six home games this year, which they announced as a birthday present to Alex Ovechkin.
Ovi has been a vocal supporter of bringing the jersey back, with good reason.
The Caps first debuted the black Reverse Retro jersey in 2022-23, perhaps after Ovechkin himself floated some ideas. In the seven games they wore that jersey, the Caps’ record was 4-2-1. Ovechkin scored a whopping 11 goals in those seven games. He scored at least one goal in each game, including one hat trick. Most notably, Ovechkin made history wearing the black jersey by passing Gordie Howe for second most goals scored all time.
The black jerseys are inspired by the Caps’ logos and themes from 1995-2007. Ovechkin wore the original black screaming eagle jersey when he played his first NHL game for the Caps. (He also scored two goals and broke the glass.)
This year the Capitals will wear the black Reverse Retro jersey on Nov. 6, Nov. 29, Dec. 31, Jan. 18, Feb. 1 and April 13, despite new deals supposedly ending the Reverse Retro jerseys in the NHL.
As Ovechkin looks to make history by surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals scored record, there’s a good chance he’ll do it wearing the black screaming eagle.
