Washington Capitals forward prospect Alexander Suzdalev added two more goals to his season total on Tuesday night. The second goal was an overtime game-winner, giving the Regina Pats a 6-5 win over the Kelowna Rockets.
Suzdalev’s first tally of the night came on the power play at 6:05 of the final frame, tying the game, 4-4. He would drive from the left circle, towards the slot, and fire a quick wrister, beating Kelowna netminder Talyn Boyko, glove side.
Alexander Suzdalev with his 13th goal of the season. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/7IhlIEfq17
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) November 30, 2022
Suzdalev’s second tally of the night would be the overtime game-winner, coming at 3:07 of the extra frame. He would receive a pass from Connor Bedard and fire a fierce one-timer, beating Boyko high on the blocker side.
Alexander Suzdalev drops the hammer in overtime. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/8Bg4jy0DnU
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) November 30, 2022
Suzdalev, 18, now has 14 goals in 23 games played so far this season, with nine of those coming on the power play. He also has 16 assists (30 points) for a 1.30 points per game average in his rookie campaign in the Western Hockey League.
The Capitals selected Suzdalev in the third-round (70th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. They acquired the pick as part of the trade that sent goaltender Vitek Vanecek to the New Jersey Devils on second day of the draft.
The Capitals announced on July 15, the last day of the team’s development camp, that they had signed Suzdalev to a three-year deal. Suzdalev will earn $775,000 in each of the first two seasons of the deal and $800,000 (NHL) in the third and $82,500 in the AHL.
Suzdalev is expected to depart Regina in the coming days in order to join Team Sweden in their preparations for the upcoming 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship beginning in late December. The 47th edition of the Championship is scheduled to be held from December 26, 2022 through January 5, 2023 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.
The Pats continue their British Columbia trip on Wednesday when they travel to Kamloops to face the Memorial Cup host Blazers at the Sandman Centre with a 9:00 PM puck drop.
By Jon Sorensen
Suds!
Lance, I am 100% onboard with Sudz! We need to make it a thing. Not a big fan of the “Suzy” moniker the Pats have given him.
Suds or Sudz is it. How cool it would to land 2 top 6 wingers (Miro and Suds) and a top 4 D (Chesley) from the 2022 Draft. I’m convinced Miro is the real thing. We’ll see about the other picks.
With ya, the prospect pool is (finally) depending.