Washington Capitals defenseman Jack St. Ivany scored his first career goal on Saturday in his 62nd career game.
The puck bounced to the 27-year-old who rifled a shot top corner past panthers goalie Akira Schmid.
“I’m just trying to get something towards the net, keep the play alive,” St. Ivany said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had one bounce in front of me and go top corner before. I’ll take it.”
St. Ivany was claimed off waivers from Winnipeg on October 24 and has four assists in addition to his goal. He credits the team’s chemistry for the reason he has found success early.
“I can’t give enough credit to the group here. They’ve been so welcoming from the day I got here. Every single guy making me feel at home,” he said. “The hockey gods work in funny ways, so I’ll take it.”
St. Ivany said that the team will have the puck framed for him, but he doesn’t know where he will put it, except that it will be “somewhere special.”
Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said that St. Ivany is doing a lot of the often unrecognized work.
“Each of the games he’s played, he’s played exactly the type of hockey that we need from him and to his identity,” Carbery said. “He’s not a point producer, he’s not a power play defenseman, he is a puck-moving solid defender.
“Sometimes as an NHL defenseman that plays in that role, it’s thankless. You don’t get any points. You just go through games… I am glad he has been rewarded. That normally doesn’t happen for guys like him in his role. “
