Making his NHL debut, 22-year-old netminder Ilya Samsonov stopped 25 of 26 shots he faced to earn his first victory in the league in Friday's game against the Isles. The only "shot" to beat Samsonov was a centering feed that caromed off three different players' skates and narrowly squeezed past his outstretched pad.
In coming home with four points from their first two road games, the Caps have won their first two road contests for the first time since 2015-16 when they won their first four road games. It's the first time in Washington's franchise history that the team has opened a season with two road games and won them both.
"It's definitely not an easy start to the season when you're opening against the defending champs in their building," said Caps coach Todd Reirden after Friday's win, "and then coming in against a rival that just finished a point behind us in the Metro and that had one of the best records in the league here, especially in [NYCB Live, formerly known as Nassau Coliseum]. So I'm proud of our guys. I thought we were composed, I thought we played with energy, passion, and our bench was outstanding.
"I just love the culture that is already starting in our room, from the contributions we got from a guy like [Martin] Fehervary last game playing his first NHL game, and then tonight you got Samsonov with his first NHL start and a win. Those are things that can really allow your group to grow a special bond, and our guys really embrace that. I'm really proud of our older guys for making it easy on them, taking them in, and helping them get adjusted to NHL life."