It was a big Friday night for a 25 year old Czech newbie Vitek Vanacek. After years in the Capitals agricultural system, he finally made his NHL debut against Buffalo Sabers. He stopped 30 of 31 shots to deliver a victory for his team and secure the first W of your NHL career. His teammates praised him after the game. He received a post-game award.
And then, of course, he took a shaving cream pie on his face.
“I am very impressed with how he handled everything,” said teammate Nicklas Backstrom of Vanacek after the 2-1 victory. “He’s very calm back there. . . I think Buffalo played much better than us. They really attacked. [Vanacek] won the game for us. “
Backstrom is not wrong. The Sabers were much more dangerous on Friday night, generating 2.86 goals expected under the Natural Stat Trick. And the only one who beat Vanacek was a deviation from Tom Wilson.
Highlights @ vitacz15the impressive performance of 30 defenders on their way to their first NHL career victory.#CapsSabres | #EVERYTHING IN CAPITALS pic.twitter.com/Sd3DrdmkPf
– Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 16, 2021
Sabers may disagree with this characterization.
Rasmus Ristolainen when asked if this was a case of Vanecek stealing the game for Washington: “We made him look good”. https://t.co/DroZnTzIeN
– Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) January 16, 2021
However, the Capitals awarded Vanacek the Cobra Kai banner for the game.
In his own press time, Vanacek was circumspect, calling his NHL debut a dream come true. Then he was promptly mistreated in the face.
🥧 @ vitacz15 pic.twitter.com/YBaBQJjPMY
– Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 16, 2021
The culprit? You guessed. Tom Wilson.
RMNB Coverage of Caps in Sabers
Screenshot courtesy of Washington Capitals