Oshie Shared Tough Truth About Injuries: 'Gonna Be Some Times I'm Just Not Able To Walk For A Couple Weeks'

The 36-year-old made it clear earlier in the season that the road going forward would be a long one amid ongoing injury issues.

ARLINGTON, V.A. -- The Washington Capitals saw an unfortunate -- but not unfamiliar -- incident take place on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, as T.J. Oshie left after suffering an upper-body injury and taking some hard hits in the first period.

Oshie has been plagued by injuries over the last couple of seasons, playing in just 44 games last season after dealing with a broken foot and upper-body ailments while missing 14 games this season due to back troubles and other bumps along the way. He also had core surgery over the offseason.

Now, the Warroad native faces another hurdle late in the season with his team's playoff hopes slipping rapidly. That being said, a revelation from him a few weeks ago now echoes loudly, as he admitted that his injury woes are no secret and won't be easy to navigate as he enters the twilight of a monumental career.

"Unfortunately, the rest of my career here, there's just gonna be some times where I'm just not able to walk for a couple of weeks, and that's the way she goes," he revealed back in February.

Oshie has been a critical piece of the puzzle since arriving in D.C. back in 2015. On the ice, he's a high-energy player who can play a physical game, score goals, win face-offs when needed, and be a constant threat on the top-6. Off the ice, he is a beloved leader and a powerful voice in the dressing room.

This season, he has also chipped in 19 goals, good for second on the team, and 16 assists for 35 points in 58 games.

Each game, the 36-year-old is still going full speed, laying the body and constantly moving, shouting and even dropping the gloves from time to time. That high-flying style of play isn't the best for Oshie's injury struggles, especially as a father of four away from the rink.

However, he's passionate and wants to keep going for as long as he can, and what some believe is stubborn, he believes is driven.

"I wouldn't change the way I played in my past or my style of play for anything," Oshie declared. "We'll just deal with it and compete and have fun and try to win games."

To stay ahead of the curve, Oshie has worked closely with athletic trainer Jason Serbus and the entire staff for "prehab" and treatment as he tries to stay as healthy as he can amid issues.

"I've been staying on top of it," Oshie said concerning his health, adding, "It's a long road."