Chicago Blackhawks rookie Dominik Kubalik has been a huge surprise in his rookie season. The 24-year-old entered play on Saturday leading all NHL rookies in goals scored, and he gave those numbers a boost in the Blackhawks’ 6-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Kubalik scored two goals, and the second goal was incredible. Chicago’s Jonathan Toews fired a pass to Kubalik, who then took a a baseball-like swing with the puck still in the air and sent it past Toronto goaltender Frederik Andersen.
This goal by Dominik Kubalik is just ridiculous and Jonathan Toews’ reaction says it all. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/bTgAD6lcHC
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) January 19, 2020
What a pass. What a finish. pic.twitter.com/NEp5oyvP7a
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) January 19, 2020
Kubalik now has 20 goals on the season, and nine goals over his last seven games.
Dominik Kubalik became the first rookie in @NHLBlackhawks history to record three multi-goal outings in a four-game span (6-1—7 in 4 GP). #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/bdkPqq3WXn
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 19, 2020
Scoring twice tonight, Dominik Kubalik has reached 20 goals faster from the start of a player's career (47 games) than all but 3 @NHLBlackhawks rookies by modern standards (aka under 26 years of age)
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) January 19, 2020
Kubalik is a huge reason why the Blackhawks are red-hot, with four straight wins and 10 wins over their last 14 games.