Friday night`s game between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks will be remembered as the night Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky for the most goals in NHL history.
For Capitals rookie Ryan Leonard and Blackhawks rookie Oliver Moore, the game is significant for a different reason.
Both rookies earned their first NHL points in this game, with Leonard netting his first goal and Moore contributing his first two assists.
Leonard and Moore recently turned professional after their NCAA seasons concluded and were teammates on the United States` gold medal-winning team at the World Juniors in early January.
Leonard, drafted by the Capitals in the first round (eighth overall) in 2023, is a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the best college hockey player, having scored 30 goals and 49 points as a junior at Boston College.
Moore, selected 19th overall in 2023, finished his junior season at the University of Minnesota with 12 goals and 33 points.
Ovechkin scored his 893rd and 894th career goals in the game, tying Gretzky and making hockey history. Moore and Leonard have a long journey to reach those numbers, but they will undoubtedly be inspired.
