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Washington Capitals defenseman Erik Gustafsson may have taken awhile to record his first goal of the 2022-23 regular season but since netting a hat trick on December 17 the offseason signing has been on fire.
By scoring the Capitals’ first goal against the Montreal Canadiens on New Year’s Eve, Gustafsson extended his Points streak to seven contests and six goals in that span.
Erik Gustafsson’s (@ErkanGustafsson) extended his point streak to six games and only needed 32 seconds to do so! ⭐ #NHLStats: https://t.co/wRWio9tl6J
📺: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/c0FJF22IZL #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/SkUhLroZ9E
— NHL (@NHL) December 31, 2022
Gustafsson’s first assist of the game (on a goal by Nic Dowd) also extended his Assists streak to six, joining just four other Washington rearguards to maintain a six-game assist streak.
After scoring a goal 32 seconds into the game, Erik Gustafsson needed a little more time to extend his assist streak to six games, but he got there. 😉#NHLStats: https://t.co/NrHzt7C93B pic.twitter.com/izp4PhdoWj
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 31, 2022
No. 56 also picked up a helper on one of Alex Ovechkin’s goals in the contest, marking his third three-point night of the season and sixth of his career.
Erik Gustafsson recorded the primary assist on the Capitals’ sixth goal, his third point of the game (1g, 2a). It marks Gustafsson’s third three-point game of the season and the sixth of his career.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 31, 2022
By Michael Fleetwood
I’m still looking for that Blackhawks fan that was laughing at Caps for signing Gus. It was in the comments to a post here on the website somewhere along the way.
What makes that even funnier is Gus’ 2018/2019 season when he had 17 goals and 43 assists. Obviously he has the capability to perform at a high level offensively. Who would object to that as a 6th defenseman? It was an anomaly in his statistics, but obviously GMBM thought there was reason to think he could perform well with the Caps, and he has.
There is good reason to have him at point on the pp.
In Gus We Trust
Whos has the value per contract- Gus, Mojo or Chuck?