Walker becomes first Australian player with a point in the NHL playoffs, Walker and Boyd make playoff debuts
Nathan Walker played 40 games with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, where he scored nine goals and 13 assists. None of his points were bigger then the one Walker got on Monday night in the game six clinching game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Walker wrapped around the back of the net passing the puck to Alex Chiasson. Chiasson would bury the puck into the back of the net giving the Capitals a 1-0 lead.
The Caps forward made history at the beginning of the 2017-18 season as the first Australian to play and score in the NHL. Monday wasn’t a surprise when there was more history to be made in Walker’s rookie season. Walker became the first Australian to play in the NHL postseason and to grab a point in the Stanley Cup Playoffs!
Not only did Nathan Walker make his NHL playoff debut, Hershey Bears teammate Travis Boyd made his debut when Nick Backstrom was ruled out with an upper body injury. With Nathan Walker and Travis Boyd making their playoff debuts in their rookie season, the Capitals have now played seven rookies this postseason, the most in a single postseason in franchise history. Travis Boyd had 12:12 of ice time, Nathan Walker 8:29. Both made the best of their opportunities stepping in for Backstrom and Gersich.
#Capitals coaching staff has to get major props for tonight’s game plan and having the sack to play these 5 rookies tonight. Great leadership from Ovi for having his guys stick with it without Backstrom pic.twitter.com/VdwWGoqssK
— Alan May (@MayHockeyNBCS) May 8, 2018
