Justin K. Aller/NHLI via Getty Images
Acquired by the Washington Capitals in a trade for defenseman Christian Djoos last season, forward Daniel Sprong has gotten his first long look under new Head Coach Peter Laviolette in a pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season. While he has seen irregular playing time, the 23-year old former second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins has made the most of ice time against his drafting team in the Capitals’ Tuesday night’s tilt in the Steel City, recording his first point in a Capitals sweater on a goal by Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Entering the offensive zone, Sprong passed the puck over to linemate Jakub Vrana, whose subsequent shot deflected off Sprong’s stick, into and off of Pittsburgh netminder Casey DeSmith, and onto the waiting stick of Kuznetsov, who wasted no time in potting the rebound into the net for a 4-2 Capitals lead.
Kuzy joins the party! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/hJ6Xn70rfT
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 20, 2021
The goal marked Sprong’s first point as a member of the Capitals and was also Kuznetsov’s first goal of the 2020-21 season.
Congrats to Spronger on picking up his first point in a Caps uni with an assist on Kuzy’s second-period goal! 👏#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Nd5lvQfusp
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 20, 2021
With the goal, Kuznetsov has now reached 392 points (121 goals, 171 assists) in his NHL career, putting him shy of the 400-point mark by eight points. Sprong has 31 points in 99 games (12 goals, 19 assists) at the end of two periods of play.
Evgeny Kuznetsov gives the Caps a 4-2 lead with his first goal of the season. Kuznetsov is now eight points shy of his 400th career point (121g, 271a).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 20, 2021
By Michael Fleetwood
