How Alex Ovechkin Inspired Predators Rookie Fedor Svechkov's Goal vs. Calgary

Fedor Svechkov had the first multi-point game of his NHL career Saturday, recording a goal and an assist to help lift the Nashville Predators to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames.

The 21-year-old center, who had been recalled from the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals the previous day, could not mask his excitement after contributing to his team's second consecutive road win in his 11th NHL contest.

"I feel like the guys are alive after the game," Svechkov said. "It's nice to have a win. That's why we play every game, that feeling after the game."

Svechkov extended the Predators' lead over the Flames to 3-1 at 9:19 of the third period, when he tucked a backhand around goaltender Dustin Wolf's left pad right off the face-off in Calgary's end.

When asked about the goal after the game, Svechkov revealed that he had actually drawn inspiration from his fellow countryman, Washington Capitals winger Alexander Ovechkin, who had scored a similar goal earlier that same day in a win over the New York Rangers.

"I just saw Ovechkin's goal this morning, and it's kind of the same type of play," Svechkov said. "Honestly, I just felt like I got a jump right away on the face-off, and I got rewarded."

Ovechkin's goal, also in the third period, came on a backhand under Jonathan Quick's right pad after the puck went off defenseman K'Andre Miller's skate following a face-off in the Rangers' zone. It was goal No. 872 of Ovechkin's career, bringing him 23 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time record.

While Ovechkin has played for two decades at the game's highest level and has already etched his name in NHL history, Svechkov's NHL career is only just beginning. He debuted Nov. 23 against the Winnipeg Jets and had two goals and nine shots on goal in 11:57 of average ice time in the first nine games of his NHL career before being reassigned to Milwaukee Dec. 17. Now, in his second stint of NHL action, Svechkov is even more appreciative of the opportunity

"[I feel] much more confident," Svechkov said. "Because the first time, it's usually like, you're shaking. It's it's more difficult than it seems, especially for me. I don't know how it is for different guys, but I felt like I wasn't myself that first time. It's nice to be around these guys, but you're not feeling that you're part of the real NHL, you know? So this time, I felt like I've got to grind [for] my spot. So I came with more confidence, more pressure [on] myself, more demand of myself on the ice."

The Predators are set to wrap up their six-game road trip with their second and final visit to Winnipeg Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT.

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