Vegas Golden Knights defenseman and former Capital Nate Schmidt guest-starred on the February 14 episode of 31 Thoughts with Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman. While the conversation covered many topics, the most entertaining was a throwback to the year 2013.

Schmidt scored his first career NHL goal against the Nashville Predators on December 7, 2013. After the puck hit the back of the net, John Carlson hugged Schmidt. The two were defensive partners at the time, and Carlson skated up the ice, beating all the forwards in the footrace. Instead of breaking his momentum, he slammed into Schmidty, who then slammed into the boards.

Schmidt said it was like getting hit by a linebacker and nearly knocked him into the stands.

“I really felt I was going to eat popcorn with the people in the third row,” Schmidt said.

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Comments from 31 Thoughts

You remember before, we were talking a little bit about running into a linebacker, you know? Well running into John Carlson who’s skating full speed at you in ice skates literally [unintelligible]. I really felt I was going to eat popcorn with the people in the third row.

It was awesome. John’s a good friend of mine and it was awesome to be a part of it too. It was all such a blur, right? But you can always remember that first one.

I vaguely remember, like you said, probably the hit more than the actual goal going into the net, because that might’ve been the hardest I got hit all game

You’ll never forget that. I know I won’t. My shoulder will probably never forget either.

Here is Schmidt’s shot, goal, and hug.

In 2015 Nate Schmidt got another John Carlson aggressive check-in when he scored his first goal of that season. Alex Prewitt wrote about that for the Washington Post.

Defenseman John Carlson reached Schmidt first, just like he had Dec. 7, 2013, when Schmidt uncorked his first career NHL goal. Carlson, who had spent 67 straight games paired beside Orpik, wrapped his new partner in a massive hug and, like two Decembers ago, almost drove Schmidt into the third row, slamming him against the glass.

“That was probably the hardest I got hit all night,” Schmidt joked. “I’ll take that at this time of the year for me. Getting that first one of the year feels great. I hope you guys could see his expression too, because I think that might have been as good as mine. It was a big goal for us at the time, and it really put us ahead for the rest of the game.”

And here’s the 2013 goal again, but in slow-motion this time, because we deserve good things.

Headline photo: NHL Tonight