The answer to the question is…a shy grin. I asked Andrei Loktionov today about his first NHL goal and what his intentions really were on the play last night. Loktionov held the puck behind the Carolina net, without any real pressure, but without any real options in front of the net either. No teammates were positioned around the net, and as he drifted toward the corner, Loktionov tossed the puck in front and it deflected off the stick of goalie Justin Peters and across the line. Was the play by design?
“It’s a secret,” Loktionov said with a big smile. Loktionov’s English is limited, but he has a good nature, a good sense of humor and is well-liked by teammates. Loktionov said he got the puck from his first goal and called the moment “so exciting.”
To see a video of the goal, click here.
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