Former Detroit Red Wing Jakub Vrana’s NHL last chance saloon/Capitals reunion got off to a good start Tuesday night in Washington, when the Czech sniper buried his first shot back with the Capitals
As Andrew Mangiapane stripped the puck off Zach Whitecloud in the corner, Vrana descended on the slot, where Mangiapane found him with a backhand pass that he one-timed home. It was Vrana’s first goal as a Capital since 2021, and his first NHL goal since Nov. 14, 2023, when he scored in a St. Louis Blues win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Understandably, Vrana was ebullient post-game. “It felt great,” he told reporters before his locker. “I gotta give a lot of credit to [Mangiapane]. It was a great forecheck, and he won that puck battle, and he served it to me…Happy that one went in…It felt amazing, also to get the win here tonight was great, celebrate with the boys after the game. Great day.”
Vrana has made something of a habit of hot but ultimately unsustainable starts when he joins a new team, so here’s to hoping the comfort of this reunion with the Capitals (from whom he was dealt to the Red Wings in 2021, before being unceremoniously sent on to St. Louis two years later) helps Vrana build on his early momentum back in D.C.
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