Canadiens rookie Kotkaniemi scores first NHL goals

Rudi Schuller

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Canadiens rookie Kotkaniemi scores first NHL goals image

It took 12 games, but Jesperi Kotkaniemi can finally call himself an NHL goal scorer.

The 18-year-old Canadiens rookie tallied the first goal in Montreal's comeback 6-4 victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday, finishing off a Joel Armia feed at the 2:28 mark of the first period.

The goal made Kotkaniemi the second-youngest goal scorer in Canadiens franchise history, and youngest in nearly 44 years.

The teams traded goals after Kotkaniemi opening salvo, with the Capitals eventually taking a 4-3 lead into the third period. It appeared that Washington would come away with the victory, but at 16:56 of the final frame Kotkaniemi helped kickstart Montreal's comeback by scoring his second goal of the game.

The youngster batted the puck in from close range to tie things up at 4-4 and give his team life.

Max Domi would score with 22 seconds remaining to put the Canadiens ahead, while Armia tallied just two seconds later to seal the deal as Montreal completed the unlikely comeback.

Kotkaniemi, drafted third overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, joins fellow top-four picks Rasmus Dahlin, Andrei Svechnikov and Brady Tkachuk as a goal scorer. It's the first time since the 2009-10 season that all top-four picks from the most recent draft have scored at least one goal in the ensuing campaign.

Rudi Schuller