Ethen Frank scores first NHL point after stopping Lars Eller’s goal and assisting on goal: ‘I feel like all the work I’ve done has finally paid off’

Ethan Frank His name appeared in his first career NHL game on Friday against the Montreal Canadiens.

Frank’s milestone came from his signature fast skating. The two-time winner of the AHL’s Fastest Skater competition cleared the ice behind the Montreal net by flying around the ice at speeds of up to 23 mph. Frank spotted after hanging around Canadiens defenseman Alber Shekay Lars Eller There was a nice backhand pass in the right circle. Eller’s quick shot beat Canucks goaltender Jakub Dobes 1:54 into the third period to tie the game at 2, the Danish center’s eighth goal of the season. ball.

Frank dished out the assist despite being surrounded by four different Canadiens players.

“Are you serious, man,” Protas, a member of Hershey’s 2023 Calder Cup-winning team, said from the bench while taking the microphone for the Monumental Sports Network.

When Jakob Chychrun handed the forward’s milestone puck to the Capitals coach, another of Frank’s former teammates in Hershey, Connor McMichael, congratulated him on a job well done very good. Protus also reached out and patted Frank on the head, which was “a special bear-like moment.”

The good vibes continued when Wes Johnson announced Eller’s goal on the radio. When Frank heard his name, he looked up at the big screen and smiled, seeming to really let the moment sink in.

Frank came to his games with a “little army of seven or eight” at Capital One Stadium. After Frank became the 40th Capitals player to score on his debut, his father Dave, mother Michelle, sister Kayla and girlfriend Caitlin were all in attendance, all smiles on their faces.

“It was nice to get my feet wet,” Frank said after the game. “Obviously, the individual performance was a little better than it was in preseason, so I’m happy that I was able to contribute offensively. I think I can build on that and it’s a good stepping stone for me.

“I was out on the ice thinking about how I felt and how I felt, and it wasn’t a sense of satisfaction because I was still hungry for more, but that was the only word that came to my mind,” he added. “I feel like all the work I’ve put in is finally paying off, so it feels good.”

Frank is known for his goal-scoring prowess in the AHL, scoring 79 goals in his last 156 games with the Hershey Bears. In a game where Washington struggled to create offense, Frank’s assist ultimately sealed the point for the Americans, and the two teams didn’t score again for the remainder of the third quarter.

“I like it very much [his game]”, head coach Spencer Carberry said. “I think he’s arguably our best player on the ice. He’s a positive influence; he’s the reason we’re tied. I think he’s awesome.

According to the Capitals, Frank is the first player to score in his debut since Vincent Iorio of the San Jose Sharks on March 4, 2023. The winger posed with his milestone puck in the Capitals locker room.

Frank skated on Washington’s third line with Eller and Taylor Raddysh, totaling 10 minutes and 29 seconds of skating time. He missed a shot, hit the target twice and received a two-minute minor penalty for tripping, resulting in a 3-2 overtime loss.

The Nebraska native will likely don another sweater when Washington takes on the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.

Well-loved by teammates and fans alike in Chocolate Town, it’s great to see what Frankie brings to the area!#all caps pic.twitter.com/E5Xo5gROlV

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 10, 2025