John Carlson was the first player to score for the Metropolitan Division All-Stars in their game against the Atlantic Division.
Taking a pass from Mathew Barzal, Carlson ripped a one-timer past a helpless Frederik Andersen to narrow the Atlantic’s early lead to 2-1. TJ Oshie got the secondary assist on the goal – his first career All-Star Game point.
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Carly SNIPE! pic.twitter.com/rIVy2yIsw2
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 26, 2020
Carlson didn’t celebrate after scoring. Instead, he flashed an amused smile to his teammates as if to say this has to be a mistake.
But no one would have blamed Carlson if he dropped to one knee and pumped his fist. With his goal, Carlson accomplished something that no other defenseman in the Capitals’ 46 years as a franchise has ever done. According to the Capitals’ PR, Carlson is the first Caps defenseman to ever score in an All-Star Game.
John Carlson is the first defenseman in franchise history to score in the NHL All-Star Game.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 26, 2020
Carlson’s nod in this year’s All-Star Game marked the franchise’s 19th different appearance in the event. Carlson is the ninth Capitals defenseman ever to make an All-Star Game. The others are:
Robert Picard (1980), Rod Langway (1983, 84, 85, 86), Scott Stevens (1985, 89), Kevin Hatcher (1990, 91, 92), Al Iafrate (1993, 94), Sergei Gonchar (2001, 02, 03), Mike Green (2011), Dennis Wideman (2012), John Carlson (2019, 20)
Squadddddddddd#TeamMetro pic.twitter.com/hqzVcym1DN
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 26, 2020
