The longest shootout in NHL history was ended Tuesday night by former Golden Gopher hockey star Nick Bjugstad.
Bjugstad, a second-year forward for the Florida Panthers, lifted his team to a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals with a goal in the 20th round of an exhausting shootout. According to the Cape Breton Post, the previous record-long shootout was a 15-round affair in 2006 between the New York Rangers and Capitals.
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“I kind of relaxed, took a deep breath and tried going in there with confidence, and it worked out,” Bjugstad said, according to ESPN.
Florida was down to its last shot five times, and scored each time to keep the drama alive.
Nick Bjugstad wins it! …on his 2nd shot of the contest, you know, since they went through BOTH ENTIRE ROSTERS. #WSHvsFLA
— NHL (@NHL) December 17, 2014
#Capitas vs Panthers shootout figures
*20 Rounds (NHL record)
*Panthers trailed 5 times
*Shootout lasted exactly 17:43— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) December 17, 2014
Here’s another good look at Bjugstad’s winner from behind the goal, thanks to a fan who posted the video on Instagram.
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Breaking: Bjugstad wins it for Florida in millionth round of shootout, it's first time in NHL history a shootout has gone a million rounds.
— Yahoo Sports NHL (@YahooSportsNHL) December 17, 2014
Bjugstad, 22, is a native of Blaine, Minnesota, and he still loves and talks about Minnesota high school hockey and the Gophers – sometimes to the point of annoying his teammates. NHL.com did a “My Story” segment with Bjugstad in which he spends a couple of minutes talking about his upbringing in the State of Hockey.
