Ryan Leonard scores first career NHL goal on an actual goalie in Capitals win over Islanders: 'I know I'm capable of doing it'

"While the moment was special - Gretzky congratulated Leonard personally - and the 20-year-old winger scored twice in the preseason, Leonard had yet to beat an actual NHL goalie in a regular-season game until besting Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin Saturday night on Long Island. "Yeah, it was going in during the preseason," Leonard said postgame. "I know I'm capable of doing it. It's great to see it go in, though.""

"Leonard's goal, which ended up being the game-winner against New York, came at the 9:50 mark of the second period just as a Capitals power play expired. After a crazy net-front scramble, Jakob Chychrun recycled the puck and found Leonard in the high slot for a wicked wrister that deflected past Sorokin. Leonard ended the night with his goal, two shots, five shot attempts, three individual scoring chances, one individual high-danger chance, and three hits."

""I thought he was good," Carbery said. "Their line gets lost a little bit in the shuffle, and it's because there's some young guys on that line that I'm protecting late in the game when we've got to find a way to get a win under our belt early in the season. But I thought he was good. "Overall, obviously didn't play a ton in the third period, but he's doing good things."

Ryan Leonard scored his first regular-season NHL goal Saturday, beating Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin with a deflected wrister that became the game-winner. The 20-year-old had previously scored an empty-net goal last April and recorded two preseason goals but had not beaten a goalie in regular-season play until this night. The goal arrived at 9:50 of the second period as a Capitals power play expired following a net-front scramble and a Jakob Chychrun feed. Leonard finished with one goal, multiple shots and chances, three hits, and 10:01 of ice time while playing on the third line with Hendrix Lapierre and Anthony Beauvillier. Head coach Spencer Carbery called his performance effective and noted limited third-period minutes were situational protection for young linemates.

Read at RMNB