Both future Capitals netminders were credited with unconventional first goals.
The Washington Capitals have yet to see a goalie goal in franchise history, but they saw two of their prospects pull it off on Friday — and in strange, strange fashion.
Mitchell Gibson and Antoine Keller were both credited with goals for their respective teams, the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays and the QMJHL's Acadie Bathurst-Titan.
Gibson, who's playing in his first pro season following an impressive tenure at Harvard, was playing against the Savannah Ghost Pirates and had been the last one to touch the puck before one of their players misplayed the puck on a delayed penalty and threw it all the way into their own empty net at the other end of the ice.
Gibson was credited with the goal and got the full rookie treatment, puck and picture included, en route to a 8-5 win.
Keller, who is playing his rookie CHL season after having played in the Swiss league, was in goal for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan against the Chicoutimi Sagueneens on Friday.
In the second period, with his team on the penalty kill, the French-born netminder helped clear the puck down the ice. The other goalie went to receive it and passed it to his defender, who then mishandled the puck and put it in the back of his own net.
It marked Keller's first career goal, and to make it sweeter, it wasn't on an empty net. That goal also gave the Titan the upper hand en route to a 4-3 victory. He also got the full treatment, getting a photo with the milestone puck.
Keller's goal is just another highlight from what's been a solid freshman year with Acadie-Bathurst, who needed a win as it tries to work up the standings. Through 17 games, he has 461 saves for a .902 save percentage.