Tomas Kundratek Scores First NHL Goal, Steve Oleksy Records First NHL Point

WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 05: Steven Oleksy #61 of the Washington Capitals (R) and Tomas Kundratek #36 hold up pucks for their first point and goal respectivly after an NHL game against the Boston Bruins at Verizon Center on March 5, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Washington Capitals defeated the Boston Bruins 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

One day after Steven Oleksy was recalled by the Washington Capitals and signed to a three year deal, he and former Hershey, now Washington teammate Tomas Kundratek both recorded first in the Caps’ game against former Bear Chris Bourque and the Boston Bruins.

In front of his parents, Oleksy assisted on Mike Ribeiro’s second period goal. “Great to have my family here. Soon as I called them they drove through the night which is not easy to do, but I definitively appreciate them doing that,” Oleksy told the DC media after the game. “I had some other people fly in too which was amazing.”

WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 05: Steven Oleksy #61 of the Washington Capitals skates on the ice during warmups before the start of the Capitals game against the Boston Bruins at Verizon Center on March 5, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

This was also Oleksy’s first NHL game. “We got a great group of guys here that really helped me out a lot with that quick turn around. Coming back and seeing (Braden Holtby) and (Tomas Kundratek) who I played with earlier in the year, it was a great feeling.”

One of those guys he played with earlier in the year, Tomas Kundratek, got his first NHL goal in the game as well. “I’m so happy it went in today,” said Kundy. “It’s great, I feel awesome. I had a few chances in games before.”

Since his call up one game into the NHL season, Tomas’ ice time has been going up and up with Capitals d-men going down with injuries. “It’s great to get ice time like that,” Tomas told the Caps’ Mike Vogel after the game. “I appreciate the coaches for that. It’s huge for me”

This night was also a big one for another former Bear, Eric Fehr, who scored a game winning overtime goal for the Capitals, completing a come back for the Caps and giving them their ninth win of the season.