John Carlson just reached a very impressive milestone and he did so after a six-game absence due to a lower-body injury.
The Capitals defenseman became the fifth player and first defenseman in Capitals history to reach the 600-point milestone during the second period of the Capitals’ Veterans Day game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Carlson recorded the point when he tallied the primary assist on Sonny Milano’s breakaway goal.
THE CAPS JUST KILLED A FIVE-MINUTE PENALTY AND FOUND SONNY MILANO BREAKING OUT OF THE BOX FOR A GOAL!!!! pic.twitter.com/VXZVPdhFCb
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) November 12, 2022
Carlson took a loose puck from just outside the crease and sent a pass off the boards to Milano who was ambling out of the penalty box. Milano was serving Nicolas Aube-Kubel’s five-minute major for an illegal check to the head.
Milano put a beautiful move on Andrei Vasilevskiy to score, sending Capital One Arena into a frenzy.
yes yes yes yes yes pic.twitter.com/kEAFI9JyFT
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 12, 2022
“It was somewhat like a PK play because coming from the half-wall down to the net,” Carlson said during the second intermission to NBC Sports Washington. “As soon as the puck jumped over the guy’s stick, I knew better be safe, shoot it a little bit harder than a pass, just in case, (because) getting it out of the zone was (the) first (priority). Worked out well to Sonny.”
For Carlson, point number 600 moved him past Michal Pivonka for sole possession of fifth place on the Capitals’ all-time points list.
GO JOHNNY GO‼️
With his assist on Sonny Milano's goal, Carly is the fifth player ever to reach 600 career points in team history and moves into fifth all-time in scoring for the Caps.#ALLCAPS | @LeidosInc pic.twitter.com/Aai8xYc5VZ
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 12, 2022
The only other Capitals players who have scored more are Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Peter Bondra, and Mike Gartner.
John Carlson recorded the primary assist on Milano's goal, marking his 600th career point. With the assist, Carlson also passes Michal Pivonka (599) for the fifth-most points in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/81TSQUp7kD
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 12, 2022
The Capitals posted a tribute video in honor of Carlson’s milestone.
6️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ career points in #ALLCAPS
What a pleasure it's been to watch you continue to make history, @JohnCarlson74! pic.twitter.com/bBIJ6jlF0y
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 12, 2022
The next closest defenseman to Carlson in points is Calle Johansson, who scored 474 in 983 career games with the Caps.
Congratulations, Johnny.
