Connor McMichael amongst league leaders in unfortunate stat

Through the first stretch of the season, McMichael has fired 18 shots on goal without scoring, tying him among league leaders in bad puck luck. Yet his play has been among Washington's most consistent bright spots, a mix of energy, pace, and awareness that keeps earning him minutes.

Last season, McMichael posted a career high in goals, finding the confidence and touch that had long been promised when he was drafted in 2019. This fall, he's doing much of the same - just without the payoff. His underlying numbers suggest the dam is ready to burst.

Head coach Spencer Carbery praised McMichael's work off the puck earlier this week, noting how his backpressure and defensive reads have stabilized the middle six. For a young forward trying to secure a full-time role, that matters as much as the stat sheet.

The shots are coming from good areas, too. He's attacking the slot more, cutting in off the rush, and using his edges to create space against bigger defenders. A few bounces the other way and he might already have three or four goals.

Fans notice it, too. Many online are calling him «snakebit,» but they also appreciate the maturity in his game. McMichael looks more like a driver now, not just a complementary piece.

Here's the original stat that sparked the discussion:

If McMichael keeps generating chances like this, it's only a matter of time. Every good goal scorer goes through a stretch like this one, and usually the breakout comes fast once it starts. The effort's there, the shot's there - the finish will follow.