2014 first-round pick Jakub Vrana scored the first NHL goal in his young NHL career Friday, directing home a one-time pass by Evgeny Kuznetsov on the power play.
The 20-year-old Czech was greeted in the locker room after the game by a shaving cream pie to the face from Tom Wilson.
By Chris Cerullo 4 years ago
We’ve got a milestone alert, people.
2014 first-round pick Jakub Vrana just scored his first NHL goal and he can thank Evgeny Kuznetsov for how easy it was.
According to the site, the October 5, 2005 game-worn jersey, which has “light to moderate game use,” was sported by Ovechkin during the pre-game ceremony and the first period of the Caps’ home opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The sweater, later auctioned off in November 2005 as part of the NHL’s Hurricane Katrina Relief fund, features an NHL Cares patch on the front of Washington’s former black Capitol Dome home jersey.
Photo: @washcaps
Usually it’s some guy on the other team who scores his first NHL goal during Caps games. On Saturday afternoon it was Paul Carey, Hershey Bears call-up and veteran of 24 NHL games. Carey’s goal tied the game with six minutes remaining and wasn’t exactly what you’d call a “pure skill” goal from the guy in the Washington #28 jersey.
That’s the puck, stuck in the back of the net.
Stan Galiev has taken a grand total of two shots in his two games in the NHL, and he’s already recorded his first NHL goal.
In garbage time of the Caps’ loss to the Rangers in the final game of the regular season, Barry Trotz gave his rookie line the ice. Like usual, the rookies raided the offensive zone. Michael Latta loosed a desperate shot, and Galiev corralled the rebound for his milestone marker.
By Peter Hassett 6 years ago
During the fall, 20-year-old forward Liam O’Brien was given an amateur contract from the Capitals. Back then, his goal was simply to stick around for a few more days. Instead, he became one of the most impressive players during camp, earning a three-year entry-level contract at its completion for his hard work and grit.
On October 14th, O’Brien notched his first NHL point (and first NHL tongue wag) against the San Jose Sharks. Against the Canucks on Sunday, O’Brien scored his first NHL goal on former Vezina Trophy winner Ryan Miller.
Robert and Pernilla Burakovsky at the 2013 NHL Draft.
Back in September, we threw a fundraiser for Fort Dupont Ice Arena. We called it #PARTYZORD, had a ton of fun, and raised $2,800 for a great cause. One way we raised money was through a silent auction that included cool stuff like signed t-shirts and fanny packs, a jersey, bobbleheads, Rachel’s art, and a pair of tickets to the Caps’ home opener courtesy of Troy and Carmen Brouwer.
Bob McDonald, whom you all know as one of the Caps’ primary national anthem singers, won the tickets (thanks to a very generous donation). He didn’t know it at the time, but those tickets gave Bob a front-row seat for a touching family moment as Andre Burakovsky’s parents, Robert and Pernilla, were in attendance for their son’s first NHL game and got to see him score his first NHL goal.
By Nathan Burchfiel 6 years ago
Photo: Patrick McDermott
19-year-old Andre Burakovsky has already scored his first NHL goal, and we’re not even ten minutes old! Skating between Troy Brouwer and Marcus Johansson, Burakovsky continued his torrid pace from the preseason, scoring a one-timer from the slot.
Eight games into his NHL career (which feels absolutely appropriate), Evgeny Kuznetsov has scored the first goal of his NHL career. It was a big one.
With under a minute to go and with the Caps shorthanded and with their goalie pulled, Kuznetsov whacked Alex Ovechkin‘s rebound past Jonathan Quick. That goal tied the Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals at 4. It unleashed a raucous celebration in Verizon Center. And it gave the Caps one very badly needing standings point. Call it clutch.
Kuznetsov now has six points in his eight games as an NHL player. I don’t know about you, but so far he looks to me like he has the potential to be a superstar in this league. This dirty goal was just a taste.
Now onto the media extravaganza!
Twenty-seven-year-old Julien Brouillette has spent his entire career in the ECHL and AHL. In his NHL debut for the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, Brouillette got his first NHL assist, and on Saturday he scored his first NHL goal. Here in DC to watch all that hard work pay off were two of his biggest fans, his parents, who barely made it in time for the milestones.
This story involves 20,000 chickens and a 10-hour drive, so try to get your head wrapped around that now.
