Capitals Prospect Henrik Rybinski Records Two Goals And Three Assists In First Two Games Of WHL Playoffs

Photo:Brian Liesse/Seattle Thunderbirds

Washington Capitals forward prospect Henrik Rybinski and the Seattle Thunderbirds began round 1 of the 2021-22 WHL Playoffs against the Kelowna Rockets on Friday night. Rybinski recorded two assists, as the Thunderbirds won the first game, 6-0.

In game 2 on Saturday night, Rybinski scored two goals and an assist and was named the game’s second star, as the Thunderbirds won 7-3 to take a 2-0 series lead. Rybinski scored the game’s first goal at 6:45 of the first period.

Short-side Shooting – A MasterClass taught by @Capitals prospect Henrik Rybinski. 🎯@SeattleTbirds | #WHLPlayoffs | #SEAvsKEL pic.twitter.com/yjH6V6OWU0

— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 24, 2022

Rybinski then later stretched the Thunderbirds lead to 5-2 with his second of the game just seventeen seconds into the third period. He would jam home a loose puck in the Rockets crease.

They don’t ask “how?” They just ask “how many?”

We can confirm that Henrik Rybinski has ✌️ tonight.@SeattleTbirds | @Capitals #WHLPlayoffs | #SEAvsKEL pic.twitter.com/SXyc6vk8i9

— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 24, 2022

“I just went to the net and as the goalie was trying to cover it, I got my stick under and just tried to shovel it towards the net and his five hole was, luckily, open,” said Rybinski following the game.

Rybinski said the goal at the end of the second and his goal early in the third, gave Seattle the momentum back.

“They were playing some pretty good hockey in the second and we couldn’t really get anything going.” He said they needed to dial it in. “We believed that if we played the way we can play, with good puck management, good puck pursuit, good down low plays, we could win.”

The series now shifts to Kelowna for games three and four, Tuesday and Wednesday, at Prospera Place.

Rybinski, 20, was originally drafted by the Florida Panthers in the 5th round (#136 overall) in 2019 NHL Entry Draft, but was not offered a contract. (March 1 was the first day teams could sign free agent prospects to entry-level contracts). Rybinski mostly played right wing up until this season, when he switched to center.

The Capitals announced on March 1 that they had signed Rybinski to a three-year entry-level contract for $925,000 AAV. His contract will begin in 2022-23. He will likely begin his pro career with the Capitals’ AHL affiliate in Hershey.

By Jon Sorensen