ARLINGTON, Va. — A few decades ago, Bruce Boudreau was in the right place at the right time and wound up as a hockey-playing extra in the movie "Slap Shot."

Who knew so much time would pass before his next moment in the spotlight?

After years of shuttling between the NHL and minor leagues as a player, followed by years of climbing the rungs of the minors as a successful coach, Boudreau finally is getting a chance he long thought he deserved.

Sure, when Boudreau was brought up from the minors to take over as the Washington Capitals' coach a week ago, it was only on an interim basis. He has no idea how long it will last. And let's not forget, he is in charge of the team with the league's worst record.

Still, what matters is this: Bruce Boudreau, the unassuming guy everybody calls "Gabby" because he's quite a talker, is back in the NHL — as a head coach, no less.

"When you think about what it's going to be like, you never actually think of what it's going to be like," Boudreau said this week during an interview in his office at the Capitals' practice facility. "You think about the Cinderella story of what it's like, you know? ... You think, 'Oh, man, the NHL."'

That final handful of words was spoken in hushed tones, the sort of reverence that lets you know just how much this all means to a 52-year-old Canadian who grew up loving hockey and playing it, then decided in his early 20s he would be a coach someday.

While Boudreau never had so much as a day of work as an NHL assistant, the Capitals promoted him from their American Hockey League affiliate in Hershey, Pa., when they fired Glen Hanlon on Thanksgiving Day after their worst 21-game start since 1981.

Heading into today's game at Carolina, the Capitals are 2-1-1 under Boudreau, giving them the same number of points from those four games as they earned in the previous 13.

"That's what Bruce is trying to preach: Expect to win every night," goalie Olie Kolzig said.