wrote Bleacher Report\u2019s hockey account on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe goal was somewhat similar to Ovechkin\u2019s insane goal against the Montreal Canadiens on February 18, 2009, where he passed the puck to himself off the wall to spring himself past defenseman Roman Hamrlik.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The tally was Chychrun\u2019s 20th goal of the season, giving him back-to-back 20-goal campaigns for the first time in his career. He is the second defenseman in franchise history to hit 20 in two consecutive seasons, joining Larry Murphy, who did so in 1985-86 and 1986-87.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I don\u2019t know,\u201d Chychrun said when asked by Monumental Sports Network\u2019s Al Koken what the milestone meant to him. \u201cI try to do whatever I can out there for the boys. It\u2019s a heck of a group we have. We just can\u2019t wait to make a push here and fight to get into the playoffs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chychrun later scored a huge insurance goal on a third-period power play, walking down broadway and firing an 88 MPH wrister past Annunen. The goal gave the Caps a 4-2 lead with 7:49 remaining.<\/p>\n
The game marked Chychrun\u2019s fourth multi-goal game of the season, and his 21 goals, at the Olympic break, are the most among NHL defensemen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best compliment I could pay him is just he\u2019s scoring not only big goals in big moments, but they\u2019re essentially individual efforts,\u201d Spencer Carbery said. \u201cIt\u2019s just him taking a puck in a certain scenario, and whether it\u2019s him walking the blue line, whether it\u2019s him beating someone like he did tonight, and then stepping in. You don\u2019t have a lot of players who can do that in your roster. No one does. Those goals where he can create something out of nothing are huge goals. It\u2019s so hard to score in this league, and for him to score 20 back-to-back, another phenomenal year this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
In total, Chychrun skated a game-high 29:21 and led the Capitals with 7 shots and 11 shot attempts.<\/p>\n
Chychrun\u2019s 21 goals are already a career high with 23 games remaining in the season. It\u2019s the most goals by a Capitals defenseman in a single season since Mike Green scored 31 in 2008-09.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think his game has even grown this year,\u201d Carbery said. \u201cHe\u2019s a better all-around defenseman, and he\u2019s continuing to push the envelope in that respect, and also, the production hasn\u2019t dropped off at all. If not, it\u2019s increased from last year.\u201d<\/p>\n
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