Photo: Susan Walsh/AP

In a summer of changes to their lineup, the Capitals added defenseman Radko Gudas to their defensive corps, in a swap that saw longtime Capital Matt Niskanen head to the Philadelphia Flyers. As with many of the new additions, fans were eager to see what impact Gudas could have in replacing Niskanen.

In his first action donning a Capitals sweater, Gudas has already made a mark, this time on the scoresheet. In the second period of the Capitals’ second and his first preseason game, Gudas scored his first goal of the 2019-20 preseason, a goal that tied the Caps with the St. Louis Blues, 1-1.

FIRST GOAL AS A CAPITAL! Radko Gudas ladies and gents #ALLCAPS #CapsBlues pic.twitter.com/v6hYQMTb85— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 19, 2019

Following a shot by Alex Ovechkin, who celebrated his 34th birthday yesterday, the puck squirted through to the left of Blues’ goaltender Jordan Binnington, where Gudas picked the puck up and fired it past Binnington to tie the game, 1-1. The goal, assisted by Ovechkin and 2019 second-round pick Brett Leason, came at the 7:15 mark of the second frame. In 77 games played with the Flyers last season, Gudas scored four goals.

Radko Gudas, Richard Panik, and Brett Leason talk after preseason game 2 #CapsBlues #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Wyvkf6jg50

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 19, 2019

By Michael Fleetwood