In Washington, Alex Ovechkin's NHL debut is a harbinger of things to come. Ovechkin becomes the first Washington Capitals player to score twice in his first NHL game,
a 3-2 victory
against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Verizon Center.
Ovechkin, the No. 1 pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, ties the game 1-1 when he scores his first NHL goal at 7:21 of the second period. His second goal comes at 11:51 and gets the Capitals even at 2-2.
Dainius Zubrus
scores the go-ahead goal five minutes later. The goals are the first of 52 that Ovechkin scores on his way to winning the
Calder Trophy
as the League's top rookie and being named an NHL First-Team All-Star for the first of three consecutive seasons.
Ottawa Senators captain
Daniel Alfredsson
makes history of a different kind. He scores the deciding goal to give the Senators
a 3-2 shootout victory
against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre in the first NHL game to be decided in a shootout.