Ryan Leonard has found another level as the Washington Capitals‘ games have grown in importance late in the season.
The rookie winger continued his hot-shooting ways against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, scoring twice in the team’s 6-3 victory. The two goals gave him a milestone 20 on the season and eight points (5g, 3a) in his last seven games.
Leonard scored his first of the game 6:02 into the second period to put the Capitals up 2-1. As he crashed the net, Pierre-Luc Dubois wrapped a feed through the crease onto Leonard’s tape. The 21-year-old jammed the puck on frame into goaltender Arturs Silovs‘ glove, and after a quick review, it was determined the puck fully crossed the goal line.
Ryan Leonard’s 19th goal of the season
“Yeah, it was kind of like a weird play,” Leonard said postgame. “Mikey chipped it out to Dubie, and he almost kind of got stuck on the wall, and you get nervous for a second that we don’t have that two-on-one. Dubie makes a hell of a play and gets it to me.
“I saw his glove right across the line, and I looked right at the ref, and he waved no goal, and I was 110 percent that it was over the line. So, that was a good feeling, and especially right when you get back to the bench, and they say it’s over the line. It’s a good feeling.”
Leonard hit the 20 mark just 3:50 later, finishing off an incredible drive to the net from fellow rookie Cole Hutson. He has now scored a team-high 10 goals since March 1 and recorded a team-high 14 points.
“Yeah, it was great (by Hutson),” Leonard said. “It just speaks to the [ability] he has to see the ice offensively and make those plays. It’s incredible what he’s doing, and I don’t know whatever game that is, but he’s doing a great job.
“It’s exciting. Obviously, credit to the whole staff and all my teammates and linemates. It’s not a solo mission, so, yeah, they helped me out.”
Leonard is just the eighth Capitals rookie to ever score 20 goals in a season and the first since Alex Ovechkin (2005-06). By doing so, he also put a good chunk of change, $250,000, in his pocket by achieving one of the “A” level performance bonuses in his entry-level contract.
“Leno hit 20 tonight, I just heard, and he gets a nice bonus for that,” head coach Spencer Carbery said. “So, that’s a good thing. I mean, I’ve said this for the last couple of years. When you’re playing well as a team, usually those things happen. And next thing you know, guys are hitting single-season highs and all that stuff. The individual accolades come along when you play a good team game, and I thought we did a pretty good job of that tonight.”
Among all NHL rookies, Leonard ranks fourth in both goals (20) and overall point scoring (44). All three rookies ahead of him in goals and points have played in at least six more games.
In the Capitals’ franchise history, Leonard’s 44 points rank 10th all-time among rookie skaters in a single season. He leaped over Michal Pivonka (43) with his two goals against the Penguins.
