Gagarin Cup winner scored the first puck in the NHL

Chicago forward Roman Kanzerov scored the first goal of his career in the regular championship of the National Hockey League (NHL).

In the home match, Chicago was defeated by the current holder of the Stanley Cup Carolina with a score of 2: 5. The winners were Mark Jankowski (20th minute), Sebastian Aho (23), Jackson Blake (24), Taylor Hall (27) and Jordan Martinouk (46). The losers scored Kanzerov (25) and Oliver Moore (55).

For the 22-year-old Russian, this goal was the first in the current NHL season, which he scored only in the sixth game. So, Kanzerov scored his first point in the league.

In the off-season, Kanzerov joined the Chicago team, moving from Metallurg, where in 2024 he became the owner of the Gagarin Cup. The NHL scouts drew attention to him back in 2023, and he was selected by the Blackhawks in the second round of the draft (number 44).

Last season, foreign Kantserov was compared to Minnesota forward Kirill Kaprizov, as both hockey players reached a peak of performance at 21 years. Kanzerov is also the best sniper of the regular championship of the KHL season 2025/26. Before the start of the current NHL season, he managed to score a goal in one of the pre-season matches.

Carolina with six points topped the standings of the Capital Division. Chicago also closes the Central Division table, having two points in the asset after six meetings.

In the next matches, Carolina on the night of October 12 will meet on the road with Philadelphia, and Chicago a day later will hold a home game against Pittsburgh.