Ryan Leonard scored the lone goal in the Capitals\u2019 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Thursday night. The 20-year-old winger now has two goals in three games during his first-ever experience playing NHL preseason hockey this fall.<\/p>\n
Unlike his first goal, a dazzling individual effort against the New Jersey Devils<\/a>, Leonard\u2019s second marker was a more hard-working, gritty effort. The 2023 first-round pick battled for inside position in front of Boston\u2019s net and was able to punch home a rebound created by defenseman Jakob Chychrun.<\/p>\n Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery spoke about Leonard\u2019s effort postgame, praising the young forward for a direct response to some previous one-on-one coaching.<\/p>\n \u201cThe goal is exactly what I\u2019ve been talking to him about,\u201d Carbery said. \u201cI thought he did a really good job getting to the inside, fights for space, gets rewarded. Couple other really good plays, using his feet to create more space for himself and with that create some opportunities for his teammates. He did some good things.\u201d<\/p>\n Leonard played 15:14 of ice time in the team\u2019s first defeat of the preseason, firing two shots on goal, blocking one shot, and throwing two hits. The physical part of his game was noticeable and helped him draw a roughing penalty on Bruins defenseman Jonathan Aspirot.<\/p>\n After battling to the front of the net, Leonard poked at a loose puck being covered by Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. Aspirot, who had been engaged in physicality with Leonard multiple times throughout the game, cross-checked him to the ice and earned a seat in the penalty box.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought at the start of the second period on the power play, [Aspirot] kinda got me a little bit cheap behind the net,\u201d Leonard explained. \u201cIt was a little bit of a slewfoot, so, obviously, that pisses you off a little bit, but there\u2019s also a fine line where you\u2019re putting yourself out there, but you don\u2019t want to put the team on the penalty kill. I try to find the fine line, but you definitely want to stick up for yourself, too.\u201d<\/p>\n Leonard did not end up in the penalty box during the game and got even with Aspirot, leveling the rearguard with a big hit late in the second frame.<\/p>\n \u201c[Leonard\u2019s] just a competitive young man,\u201d Carbery said. \u201cDidn\u2019t think anything was over the line. I thought the puck was loose in there. He\u2019s great at the net front. He takes a high hit and draws a penalty, gets us a power play.\u201d<\/p>\n Carbery has spoken about Leonard\u2019s development at length during this year\u2019s training camp<\/a>, urging the 2023 first-round pick to focus more on the small details that make him a unique player, rather than goals and assists.<\/p>\n