Carpenter Helps Hammer the Kings, 6-1 : Young Capital Scores Two Goals and Ties an American Record

Bobby Carpenter became the first high school player ever to jump directly to the National Hockey League when he joined the Washington Capitals in 1981 after leading St. John’s High to the Massachusetts prep hockey title.

Carpenter scored 32 goals in each of his first two pro seasons and had 28 last season despite an injured shoulder.

But the 21-year-old Carpenter is really coming into his own this season. Friday night, as the Capitals beat the Kings, 6-1, Carpenter scored two goals and, with 41 goals this season, tied the record for most goals in a season by an American-born player. The mark was set last season by Joey Mullen of the St. Louis Blues.

Carpenter received a standing ovation from a crowd of 17,823 in the Capital Centre after he scored his second goal, at 8:39 of the second period, tying Mullen’s record. Included in the crowd was Carpenter’s father, Bob, a policeman in Peabody, Mass., and a scout for the Capitals.

Carpenter already had returned to the bench when the announcement was made of his record. But he stood to thank the fans.

“I never really thought that it was going to be that big of a deal,” Carpenter said after the game. “But I just felt great when the people reacted the way they did. To be an American player and set the record here (on the Capitals’ home ice) is really something.

“That’s never happened to me at a hockey game,” he said of the standing ovation. “The last time I had to stand up was when the teacher yelled at me in high school.”

Said Washington Coach Bryan Murray: “Bobby is just starting to get going. I think he had a chance to score 50 goals this season.”

Said Rod Langway, one of Carpenter’s teammates: “It’s up to him how good he can become. He’s only 21, and it’s going to come down to what he really wants to do.”

King Coach Pat Quinn was also impressed with Carpenter. “He has really blossomed,” Quinn said. “He’s a talented kid who has really responded to coaching.”

The Capitals, who at 34-13-8 have the second best record in the NHL this season behind the Edmonton Oilers, didn’t have much trouble with the Kings, who slipped to 23-22-10.

Thursday night at Philadelphia, the Kings were behind, 4-0, early in the second period against the Flyers but scored four straight goals to earn a 4-4 tie.

Friday night, however, the Kings never came back.

The Capitals took command from the start, outshooting the Kings, 16-4, in the first period and moving on to a 6-0 lead before King right wing Dave Taylor scored late in the third period. Actually, it was Capital right wing Craig Laughlin who scored Taylor’s goal, knocking a shot by Taylor into the Washington net after goalie Pat Riggin had made a save with 3:28 left in the game.

“We stood around tonight. And we never forced it to them,” Taylor said. “We couldn’t get anything going.”

Said Quinn: “We were totally outclassed. We had a number of players that didn’t appear to be sharp.

“Washington is a hell of a hockey club, and when they have a lead they are tough to beat. We had an awful shift at the beginning of the game and we never came back.”

The Capitals did a good job in shutting down centers Marcel Dionne and Bernie Nicholls, the Kings’ leading scorers.

“I think the Capitals are the best defensive team in the league,” Nicholls said. “And they’re the fastest skating team, too. They’re right up there with Edmonton.”

Left wing Bengt Gustafsson, who hadn’t scored a goal since Jan. 1, broke out of his slump with two goals.

Gustafsson had 32 goals last season but has only scored five this season.

“I just closed my eyes and shot,” Gustafsson said. “I hadn’t scored a goal in 16 games, but I wasn’t worried about it.”

The Capitals led, 2-0, after the first period as Carpenter scored his first goal at 5:21 and Gustafsson added a power-play goal at 9:04.

Former King defenseman Larry Murphy put in a rebound of a shot by Greg Adams at 3:43 of the second period. Murphy has scored four goals in five games against the Kings since he was traded for defenseman Brian Engblom on Oct. 18, 1983.

Carpenter scored his second goal, with 11:21 left in the second period, and Gustafsson got his second goal with 7:03 left to make it 5-0.

Dave Christian scored the Capitals’ final goal with 7:52 left in the game.

King Notes The Capitals snapped an 0-5-1 Friday night jinx with the win. . . . The Kings close out the three-game road trip Sunday night with a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. . . . They’ll take three days off for the All-Star break, which they will spend with their wives in Las Vegas.