Jack St. Ivany scored his first NHL goal in an unorthodox way against the Florida Panthers on Saturday.
The Washington Capitals defender intercepted a clearing attempt by Panthers goaltender Akira Schmid and quickly flung a shot toward the net as Schmid scampered back into position.
Instead of going directly on net, the puck, doing its best NBA bounce-pass impression, jumped off the ice in the right faceoff circle and flew right over Schmid’s left shoulder.
Jack St. Ivany scores first NHL goal
The goal was St. Ivany’s first in the league in his 62nd career game and fifth outing with the Capitals. He had previously played 57 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Winnipeg Jets, tallying nine assists but never denting the twine.
“It was just early in the game, so I’m trying to get something towards the net, keep the play alive, probably get one of those a game,” St. Ivany said postgame. “I don’t think I’ve ever had one bounce in front of me and go top corner before, but I’ll take it.
“(I’m) really happy, a little bit of relief. It’s been a lot of games for me in the NHL before I scored a goal. So it’s not really something I think about, but I was just ecstatic.”
Unfortunately, the celebrations were somewhat put on pause because St. Ivany stayed on the ice after scoring, and the Panthers immediately went down the other end and tied the game.
“We got scored on the next shift,” St. Ivany said. “So it was a little subdued coming back to the bench. But obviously all the guys were super nice and congratulating me. So, yeah, I’m happy that we got the win to make it a lot sweeter.”
St. Ivany’s marker was the first of four for the Capitals in an eventual 4-3 win, in which he played 13:50 of ice time and recorded two shots, three shot blocks, and one hit.
After the game, he was presented with his milestone puck by Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery.
He then took an official photo holding it up for Capitals’ social media.
“He’s just been rock solid for us,” head coach Spencer Carbery said. “I think playing with Cole, and since we picked him up, in each of the games that he’s played, he’s played exactly the type of hockey that we need from him and to his identity. I’ve just tried to stay on him (about) being consistent because, in his role, he’s not a point producer; he’s not a power-play defenseman; he’s a puck-moving, solid defender.
“That’s his identity, right? Sometimes, as an NHL defenseman who plays in that role, it’s thankless. You don’t get any points, and you just go through games, and no one notices you. No one interviews you. But there’s a real value there. If you just stay consistent with it, 10 games, 20 games, 25 games, 30 games, now all of a sudden you’re 200 games into your career, and I’m a puck-moving NHL defenseman. And that’s what he’s trying to become. So just stay with it.”
Since being claimed by the Capitals off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets, the 27-year-old St. Ivany is a point-per-game player, recording five points (1g, 4a) in five games. He has formed quite the successful pairing with rookie Cole Hutson, with the Caps dominating their five-on-five minutes.
“I’m glad he’s been rewarded, right?” Carbery said. “Because that normally doesn’t happen for guys like him in his role, but he’s been rewarded with some points. But it hasn’t gone to his head. It hasn’t changed his game. He’s just trying to be consistent with his identity night to night.”
Coming into Saturday’s game, St. Ivany was playing 14:27 of ice time per game for the Capitals. He was immediately forced into the club’s lineup after the late October waiver claim due to injuries on Washington’s backend: Vincent Desharnais (appendectomy) and Rasmus Sandin (ACL surgery).
“It’s never easy coming into a new team, especially when you don’t have training camp and those practices to get involved with the group and to come in; even if it’s just a few games into the season, it’s not easy,” Pierre-Luc Dubois said of St. Ivany. “But I think he’s done a phenomenal job of just moving the puck, making the simple play when it’s there.
“And every once in a while, the big play is there, and he makes that too. So he’s been really, really good for us. Great guy to have him in the dressing room. So we’re all really happy that he’s here.”
The 2026-27 season is St. Ivany’s fifth pro campaign since departing Boston College in 2022. He made his NHL debut with the Penguins on March 22, 2024.
“It’s been great,” St. Ivany said. “World of emotions, changing cities, but I can’t give enough credit to the group here. They’ve been so welcoming from the day I got here. Every single guy makes me feel at home. You know, the hockey gods work in funny ways, so I’ll take it.”
