Photo: Ben Green/NHLI via Getty Images
Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary had a questionable status heading into Saturday’s clash against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. After an injury in Friday’s 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at Capital One Arena, the 22-year-old took part in pre-game warmups to see if he felt strong enough to draw into the lineup.
It was a good sign seeing Fehervary on the ice at puck drop, but it got even better as he scored his third goal of the season minutes into the third period. He tied the game 2-2 at the 5:41 mark. Captain Alex Ovechkin and center Evgeny Kuznetsov assisted.
It’s a Marty Party in Buffalo pic.twitter.com/EoMyZ6782X
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 12, 2021
It marked his third goal thus far.
Martin Fehervary ties the game at 2-2 with his third goal of the season. Fehervary and Detroit’s Moritz Seider are the only rookies to lead their respective teams in both blocked shots and hits among defensemen (prior to tonight’s game, Fehervary: 42 blocked shots; 72 hits).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 12, 2021
Ovechkin recorded the primary assist on the goal, which is his fifth assist in his last three games and is now on pace for 70 assists this season.
Alex Ovechkin is on pace for 70 assists this season. His career high of 59 assists came in the 2009-10 season. Only one player in NHL history has ever recorded 70 assists in a season at the age of 36 or older: Wayne Gretzky (72a in 1996-97).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 12, 2021
As mentioned, Fehervary was considered to be a game-time decision leading up to tonight. He left Friday’s game with an upper-body injury after getting clipped high from a hit by Penguins forward Brock McGinn.
The incident occurred roughly midway through the second period. Fehervary headed immediately to the locker room and would not return for the remainder of the period.
There was no penalty on the play and the NHL’s Department of Player Safety did not discipline McGinn.
By Della Young
