Ryan Leonard becomes youngest Capitals player since Nicklas Backstrom to score in back-to-back games: 'Each and every shift gets better and better'

""Yeah, it's great," Leonard said postgame. "Playing with great players, so a lot of credit to them. Yeah, definitely feel a lot better, and each and every shift gets better and better.""

""The first period I was playing with those two suction thingies in my nose," Leonard said. "I hated it. So I was trying to get it out of there.""

"Per @NHLPR, Ryan Leonard (20 years, 273 days) became the youngest Capitals player to score in consecutive games since Nicklas Backstrom (2 GP from March 3-5, 2008 at 20 years, 103 days). - Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) October 22, 2025"

Ryan Leonard, 20, scored his fourth Capitals goal against the Seattle Kraken and extended a multi-game scoring streak. Leonard became the youngest Capitals player to score in consecutive games since Nicklas Backstrom in March 2008. He played through an early high stick to the nose that required suction plugs to control bleeding and briefly left him in visible pain. Leonard credited playing with skilled teammates for boosting his confidence and said his play improves each shift. The goal came on a quick transition after Aliaksei Protas poked the puck from Adam Larsson, allowing Leonard a high-slot shot past Matt Murray.

Read at RMNB