It was his first game-winning goal of the 2023-24 season and fourth of his career.
For the fourth time in his career, New Jersey Devils forward Michael McLeod scored a game-winning goal.
His latest was scored with 15.8 seconds remaining in the second period of his team's eventual 6-3 victory versus the Washington Capitals on Jan. 3.
The play began when McLeod delivered a hit to Washington's Martin Fehervary, which allowed Alexander Holtz to gain possession of the puck and skate toward the Capitals' net. McLeod trailed Holtz, who entered the offensive zone and dished the puck back to McLeod. The Mississauga, Ontario native spun around, and as he fell, backhanded the puck past opposing goaltender Hunter Shepard.
"(The Capitals) tied it up there, and it was nice going into the third period with a lead," McLeod said. "I was just trying to protect the puck and sling-shot it on the net, and luckily, it went five (hole)."
Per Devils PR, the multi-goal effort was McLeod's first for the 2023-24 campaign and his third-career multi-goal performance.
The center has 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in 36 games this season.
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