Ryan Leonard scored his first NHL goal in a historic game for the Washington Capitals.
Just 12:11 after Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky for the all-time goals record, the 20-year-old rookie cashed in on a milestone tally of his own. With the Chicago Blackhawks’ net empty for an extra attacker, Leonard made a great play off a Capitals defensive zone facoff and raced down all alone for his first career NHL goal.
Capital One Arena exploded for a third time on the night, welcoming the Capitals’ newest addition to the scoresheet in his first home game. The 2023 first-round pick was all smiles as he celebrated with Nic Dowd, Jakob Chychrun, John Carlson, and Brandon Duhaime in the goal hug. Duhaime was late to the celebration as he grabbed the milestone puck for Leonard.
Leonard’s goal song, “Freebird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, blared over the speakers as his family jumped up and down and pumped their fists.
“That’s my boy!” Leonard’s father John yelled.
Leonard was all around the puck before scoring, recording a career-high four shots on goal after having just one combined from his first two games. He skated 13:01 of ice time in Friday’s 5-3 victory, recording five individual shot attempts, three individual scoring chances, three individual high-danger chances, his first ever minor penalty, a drawn penalty, and two hits.
The Hobey Baker Award finalist started the game on the team’s second line with new roommate Pierre-Luc Dubois and Aliaksei Protas. He eventually worked his way onto the Capitals’ energy line with Dowd and Duhaime.
Leonard also got involved in some of the game’s rough stuff, scoring a takedown on the bigger Levshunov during a multi-man scrum in the second period.
On a night where Ovechkin did what he did, Leonard led the Capitals in shots on goal in front of a jammed pack crowd that included Gretzky and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. The Massachusetts native is less than a week removed from living in the dorms at Boston College and taking classes as a sophomore.
While it’s not career goal No. 894, it’s still a goal with a ton of hard work, sacrifice, and grind behind it. To many more, Leno!
