Photo: Patrick McDermott
Andre Burakovsky looked like a promising young forward after last year’s playoffs, recording 3 points (2 goals and 1 assist) in 11 games. Fast forward a few months, and it’s safe to say Capitals fans expected more than they got from the Swede in 2015-2016.
In the first 32 games of the regular season, Burakovsky recorded only 8 points, which included a 25-game goal-less drought between October 28 and December 28.
But everything turned around for the less-than-confident 20-year-old when he scored against the Buffalo Sabres on December 30. That same game, center Jay Beagle left the ice with a long-term injury, which required Marcus Johansson to fill in on the third line, thereby opening up a spot on the second line for Andre. In a blink, Burakovsky jumped from fourth-line right wing to second-line left wing, and he hasn’t looked back since.
In 2016, Burakovsky has accumulated 13 points in 13 games since January 2, with six goals in his last five games. Not to mention, the Caps have had a 53.2 shot-attempt percentage at 5v5 when Andre’s on the ice since January 2.
Also, this is a thing:
#Caps with 5-game goal-scoring streaks this season (Alex Ovechkin Oct.10-Oct.22 and Andre Burakovsky (Jan.19 – )
— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) February 6, 2016
Regarding his goal from today’s game against the New Jersey Devils, Burakovsky said he didn’t know he scored. “I thought it was Willy [Justin Williams] who had that goal but, I mean, I’m not complaining. Obviously I got lucky.”
We’re not complaining either.
When asked what his longest goal streak has been, he laughed and thought deeply before answering. “In my entire life? I don’t know. When I played in Erie, I think I had fourteen, fifteen maybe … But obviously five is pretty good, and I’m happy with that.”
Let’s take a look at Burra’s latest goals:
January 19 at Blue Jackets
January 27 vs. Flyers (two goals)
February 2 vs. Panthers
February 4 vs. Islanders
February 6 at Devils
A justifiably smug Swede, indeed.
