Washington Capitals legend Peter Bondra scored the first of his 503 goals thirty years ago today.
Bonzai lit the lamp on a wrist shot past New Jersey Devils’ goaltender Chris Terreri.
The goal was scored in a 3-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils at Brendan Byrne Arena.
Video
𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗭𝗔𝗜!#OTD in 1990, @PeterBondra12 scored his first career NHL goal. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/g3PMrBmI93
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 17, 2020
The even-strength goal was unassisted and opened the scoring 3:52 into the first period. It came in Bondra’s fifth career game in the NHL.
“I can’t believe it has been 30 years…seems like yesterday,” Bondra wrote on Twitter. He posted a photo of the goal puck, which featured the Devils’ logo.
According to the box score, Hockey Hall of Famers Peter Šťastný had a goal and an assist while Dino Ciccarelli had an apple on a Mike Ridley goal.
Thirty-three-year-old Craig Laughlin called the game along with Jeff Rimer. It was Locker’s first year as a color commentator; he had ended his NHL playing career a year before as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Wow.
Current NBC Sports Washington personality Alan May also played in the game and had 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 points, 0 PIMs, and 0 shots.
Bondra, who currently is an ambassador for the Capitals, led the league in goals twice in his career (1994-95, 1997-98). He also helped lead the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup berth along with Olie Kolzig in 1998.
Screenshots courtesy of @Capitals
