A quarter of the game had been played when Sandin-Pellikka sent off a shot that went right through the Tampa defense and in by the goalkeeper Andrej Vasilevskij's hip to 1–0.
Victor Hedman played Janis Moser forward to Tampa's equalizer in the third period. Dylan Larkin, however, decided for Detroit in the extension.
Sandin-Pellikka has otherwise started his first season in the NHL by going scoreless from the team's first four matches.
It's of course a dream that comes true. I got a goal and did some other good things and we took home the win, says Sandin-Pellikka according to nhl.com.
Alexander Ovetjkin made his first NHL goal in October 2005, when Sandin-Pellikka was just over half a year old.
In tonight's crush of Minnesota, the Washington captain made his first goal of the season and extended his own goal record to 898. He is thus only two full hits from becoming the first player to reach the dream limit of 900 goals in the NHL.
Ovetjkin began his point harvest by playing Dylan Strome forward to 1–0 at the end of the first period. He then set 3–1 himself directly on Strome's draw, one minute into the third period.
Rasmus Sandin was noted for an assist in the match that ended 5–1 to Washington.
