Only 6.7% of players in NHL history have scored 200 goals or more.
Now, Cam Atkinson finds himself among that elite group after scoring the game-winner tonight against the Stars. The winger has struggled to score this season, however. Tonight's goal was only his second in 12 games.
"If I'm getting opportunities and not scoring, I know [the puck] is eventually going to go in," said Atkinson after the Blue Jackets notched a huge 4-3 win over the Stars.
He acknowledged that the milestone may have been dwelling in the back of his mind by telling a story about former teammate Scott Hartnell: "[Hartnell] was stuck at 299 forever and I was at 100-something and I said I was going to get to 300 before he got to 300. It's just one of those things where you might be overthinking it."
The 5'8" winger was drafted by the Blue Jackets in the sixth round of the 2008 NHL draft and made his debut during the 2011-12 season. He's 89 goals behind Rick Nash for the all-time franchise lead.
With the Blue Jackets desperately needing a goal in the third period to stem off a push from the Stars, Atkinson obliged. He received a great pass from Oliver Bjorkstrand and went five-hole on Stars netminder Anton Khudobin to give the Blue Jackets a 4-2 lead.
WHAM BAM THANK YOU CAM. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/BZ627PqLBi
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 5, 2021
"We actually drew up that face-off play before we went out there. It made it that much more exciting," said Atkinson. "I knew [Bjorkstrand] was going to get to me. It was a hell of a pass and a nice goal."
The Stars made another late push after Jamie Benn made it a one-goal game at 11:01 in the third period, but Atkinson and the Blue Jackets stood tall and killed off a penalty in the closing minutes to secure the two points.
They'll be back in action on Sunday against the Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena.
