Derek Boogaard Scores First Goal In 234 Games

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Capitals, Rangers, NHL Videos

The New York Rangers received quite a bit of criticism this summer when they inked enforcer Derek Boogaard to a four-year contract that will pay him an average annual salary of $1.625 million. After all, while Boogaard is one of the most feared fighters in the NHL and an elite heavyweight in the pugilism department, he provides little else to a hockey team on a nightly basis -- he averages about four minutes of ice-time per game -- making that quite the odd investment. Entering play on Tuesday, the 28-year-old had scored just two goals in his career, both of which came during his rookie season in 2005-06 as a member of the Minnesota Wild.

During the second period of New York's game against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, Boogaard ended a 234 game goal-less drought when he picked up a loose puck, carried it into the Washington zone, and unleashed a booming slap shot from the top of the left circle, beating goaltender Michal Neuvirth, giving the Rangers a 3-2 lead. Frankly, he looked like he's scored from that spot 100 times.

Here's the video of his impressive shot in all of its glory...

 

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