Washington Capitals right wing Ryan Leonard (9) scores on an open goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)AP
When the Chicago Blackhawks pulled goalie Spencer Knight late in Friday’s game against the Washington Capitals, the sold-out Capital One Arena which included Wayne Gretzky and the TV audience which included fans from around the world, all focused, wondering if they were about to see a milestone goal.
As it turned out, they did, just not the milestone goal they were picturing.
Amherst native Ryan Leonard, who was playing in his third NHL game, scored his first goal as a professional as he outraced the Blackhawks’ defense to tap the puck into the open net.
In the stands, NHL Network showed his parents cheering while his father, John Leonard, saying “That’s my boy.”
The goal came 12 minutes and 11 seconds after Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky as the NHL’s career leader with 894 goals. It was Ovechkin’s second goal of the game.
Ovechkin will try to break the record and while Leonard will go after his second on Sunday afternoon against the Islanders in New York.
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