Justin Peters’ new mask turns Honest Abe into frightening dog

What do you get when you combine Justin Peters’ nickname with a Washington Capitals post-win tradition? A snarling, ferocious dog with an Honest Abe hat, tie and beard, all slapped atop Peters’ outstanding new goalie mask.

Justin Peters’ nickname, ‘Pete-Dawg,’ has made an appearance on his NHL masks in some way, shape or form since he made his NHL debut in 2009-10. Never has the “dawg” been so dapper, though. For his newest mask, Peters teamed up with DaveArt’s David Gunnarsson to create a very ferocious yet presidential dog – one fitted with a top hat, bow tie and Abraham Lincoln’s famous facial hair. It’s not just a nod to one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, though. It actually pays tribute to what has become a Capitals tradition. After every victory, the players hand out an Honest Abe hat and beard to the player of the game.

But, as always, it’s Gunnarsson’s attention to the finer details that really makes the mask stand out. On the right side of the mask, you’ll see the statue of Lincoln fading into the background, as well as the Capitol Building and the President’s Seal on the left. Near the chin of the mask on the left side, there’s a thin outline of Washington’s shoulder patch and there are stars littering the inside of the dog’s mouth. Of course, as has become a staple with Gunnarsson’s creations, the dog’s teeth glow in the dark thanks to the GLOW FX technology the designer employs. The new mask is a bit of a departure from the

toned down lid Peters’ wore at the Winter Classic, which featured the signature dog stuck inside a doghouse. In a way, it combines both Peters’ and

Braden Holtby’s masks from the outdoor contest, though, as Holtby had Lincoln on his chin for the Jan. 1 outing against the Chicago Blackhawks. Peters hasn’t used the helmet in game action yet, but the Capitals have a back-to-back on March 28 and 29 in which the mask could make its debut.