RMNB reader Bridget L. took her three-year-old son Max to the Caps’ morning skate on Wednesday. The mother and son sat in the first row and watched as the team readied itself for the rival Flyers that night.

Amazed by what he saw, Max could not stay seated. He stood up at the glass near star center Nicklas Backstrom. Bridget thought it was a good time for a photo op, so Max grinned as wide as he could while mom snapped away.

A few seconds later, something adorable happened.

Max, lost in excitement, pointed at Backstrom.

The Swedish center noticed, waved back, and said hi.

Aw, man. Let the heart melting begin.

Bridget tells us that the first thing Max told his father when he saw him next was, “Daddy! I was at the glass and Backstrom the hockey player said hi to me!” She says Max was beyond thrilled.

Like I keep saying, these are the tiny moments that make hockey fans for life. No matter how trivial it may seem, Nicky’s little gesture made Max’s day.

In the end, that’s what’s important.