Eight games into his NHL career (which feels absolutely appropriate), Evgeny Kuznetsov has scored the first goal of his NHL career. It was a big one.

With under a minute to go and with the Caps shorthanded and with their goalie pulled, Kuznetsov whacked Alex Ovechkin‘s rebound past Jonathan Quick. That goal tied the Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals at 4. It unleashed a raucous celebration in Verizon Center. And it gave the Caps one very badly needing standings point. Call it clutch.

Kuznetsov now has six points in his eight games as an NHL player. I don’t know about you, but so far he looks to me like he has the potential to be a superstar in this league. This dirty goal was just a taste.

Now onto the media extravaganza!

Video of the Goal

John Walton’s Call of the Goal

GIFs of the Goal

The Celebration

The happiest person after Evgeny Kuznetsov's first NHL goal? Dmitry Orlov. pic.twitter.com/ljns6T8QuR — Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 26, 2014

The Puck

The Coach’s Praise

Adam Oates said this to the press:

“It was a big goal that actually got us a point. Shorthanded. It was a good play. We won a draw, Orly [Dmitry Orlov] makes a nice run up the ice, which gives us a chance to get the goalie out. We dumped it in, and then I’m sure they relaxed just enough; it’s a weird situation. Sometimes those goals go in. It was a big goal for him and us; it gets us a point.”

The Ace Prediction

Evgeny Kuznetsov will score his first NHL goal tonight #TheBank — Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 25, 2014

Headline photo: Rob Carr