He is a 38-year-old veteran with a Stanley Cup ring and 14 years worth of NHL experience. That doesn’t mean Mike Knuble doesn’t get nervous. A late bloomer by NHL standards, Knuble had scored at least 20 goals seven straight seasons in his 30s – a remarkable feat of consistency. It’s a mark that he takes pride in. It’s a streak he wasn’t sure would continue. Knuble had just 11 goals through the end of January. At times it’s looked as if his body was slowing – a process virtually impossible to stop at an advanced NHL age. So when Knuble finally potted his 20th goal of the year on Tuesday night at Philadelphia – no surprise that it came as he was diving towards the crease – it came as a relief.
“I was absolutely thrilled when [the puck] went in,” Knuble said. “I’m not going to lie about that. I was very happy with that. That’s my goal starting out every September.”
Knuble is on fire lately. He has five goals, including an overtime game-winner vs. Chicago, and six assists over the last 10 games. All five of those goals have come in the last five games. He added a goal and two assists against the Flyers. Knuble even assisted on Marcus Johansson’s late third-period goal that help send the game to overtime.
“[Knuble] has had six points in his last two games. He is playing like a twenty-four year old,” Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said. “I don’t know how many seasons he’s had twenty goals or more, but when other people go down it is great to have the depth for someone else to pick it up. He picked his game up and was really good with the key injuries we have right now.”
No. 20 came at 17:46 of the first period with an assist from teammate Jason Chimera. Knuble later earned an assist on Dennis Wideman’s power-play goal, also in the first period. His pass to Johansson was promptly one-timed past Philadelphia goalie Brian Boucher. That gave Knuble 20 goals and 16 assists in 71 games this season.
“You’ve got a seven-year streak going you don’t want it to end. And then last week kind of happened and it jumped up,” Knuble said. “I take pride. It means you’re a consistent player. You know what your team can can’t on you for. And to do it you’ve got to stay healthy and be put in the right spot. I’m very happy with my consistency and being able to produce that.”
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