Burakovsky’s confidence grows for Caps

CHICAGO – Andre Burakovsky had it all planned in his mind. In the first year of his new contract, he’d solidify himself in the Capitals’ top-six forward corps, reach a new career-high in goals and points, meeting those lofty expectations from the organization with a breakout year. Those goal droughts he had of 25-plus games the past two seasons would be a thing of the past this time. He’d stay healthy and in the lineup.

“It’s just reality that it doesn’t go that way,” Burakovsky said.

Instead, Burakovsky broke his thumb nine games into the season and missed the next 20. Still young at just 23 years old, Burakovsky feeds off confidence, and the injury sapped it. His production stalled, and then he was a healthy scratch for a handful of games. Those big expectations Washington had for the 2013 first-round pick weighed heavily in his fourth NHL season.

And then on Thursday night in Minnesota, Burakovsky skated from one end of the ice to the other, and sniped a puck past Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk. That was the player Burakovsky was supposed to be this season, speedy with a splendid shot. His second goal in as many games has fueled the hope that the Burakovsky the Capitals were expecting has finally arrived.

“This season hasn’t been how I wanted it to, but I think everything is coming with confidence, and right now, I think I’m kind of on my way back to where I want to be,” Burakovsky said.

As the puck beat Dubnyk in the third period on Thursday, Robert Burakovsky celebrated with other players’ fathers in a suite above the ice, both relieved and overjoyed.