It was a nothing play.

Nobody scored. I'm not even sure anyone even got a shot off. But it didn't matter. It was worth it.

About ten minutes into the first period of Friday's Red Wings - Capitals game, Steve Yzerman - The Captain - was stuck in the corner with two Caps defenders. It happened right in front of me. The ensuing scrum for the puck was the same as anything you see in a typical NHL game. A couple of players vying for the puck...with one glaring exception.

Yzerman made a dig for the puck. The first defender squashed him against the boards. The Captain kicked the puck along with his skate. It squirted by the second defender and Stevie Y was able to poke his stick out and slap the puck to a teammate behind the net. The Wings made a turnover and play went down the ice the other way.

The moment was fleeting, but telling. Here's a guy, 40 years old, five-time 50 goal scorer, 682 goals overall (9th all-time). He remade his game in the 90's and won the Selke Trophy ass outstanding defensive forward. Three Stanley Cups. A Conn Smythe Trophy as 1998 playoff MVP. A knee reconstructed with surgery that was literally unprecedented for a professional athlete. A face reconstructed just 18 months ago. Absolutely nothing to prove.

But here he is fighting for the puck against 2 guys half his age and twice as strong. And he wins.

One meaningless play in an essentially meaningless game against a last-place team. But that play - just those few moments - that play was worth the price of admission.