Photos by Rich Lam/Getty Images

One of the few bright spots in last night’s 6-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks was Chandler Stephenson’s tally late in the third period. This was the first goal of Stephenson’s NHL career. The goal would occur with a few of his friends from Hershey on the ice.

Stephenson’s goal would come on the end of a play in which he did most of the work. Stephenson began the scoring rush with a feed from Jay Beagle at center ice. He would take the puck the length of the Canucks zone, finishing with a shot from a severe angle, below the goal line on the left side. The shot would ultimately bounce off of Canucks goaltender Anders Nilsson for the goal. The score came with 2:08 left in the game.

The call by John Walton

Stephenson’s tally came with a few of his friends from Hershey on the ice. Madison Bowey was credited with an assist on the goal. This was Bowey’s first career NHL point. In addition, Hershey team-mate Nathan Walker was also on the ice for the goal. Walker would ultimately retrieve the puck and give it to Stephenson following the goal. The three former Bears would celebrate the goal together on the ice in Vancouver.

Stephenson has started the 2017-2018 hockey season with a bang, scoring five goals in six games with Hershey, including his first career hat trick against Grand Rapids last Saturday night.

Stephenson is the third Capitals player this season to score their first career NHL goal in the respective player’s first game of the season (Walker, Djoos).