A Look Back at Five First NHL Goals So Far This Season
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One of the biggest milestones that a player can achieve is their first goal in the National Hockey League. Although a few high-profile names like Adam Fantilli and Logan Cooley still have yet to light the lamp, there has still been a number of first goal moments. Below are five that have occurred within the first two weeks of the regular season:
Connor Bedard
Despite being widely known for his dangerous wrist shot, the first-overall pick put the NHL on watch for a different talent in his large skillset. In a 1-3 loss to the Boston Bruins, Bedard gave his team their only goal of the game with a wraparound to beat goaltender Linus Ullmark. Bedard has quickly established himself as a key cog in the Chicago machine, and Boston just got a taste of what is in store for the rest of the league.
Leo Carlsson
The surprise second-overall pick wasted no time in letting the NHL know what he is capable of. In his first game as a professional, Carlsson snapped a goal past Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger with an assist from fellow Anaheim star Troy Terry. The Ducks shocked the hockey world when they opted to draft the 6’ 3” Swedish centerman over Fantilli, but it seems like Carlsson is working out so far. Carlsson does not look out of place on the Anaheim roster at all, and is going to be a major contributor to the team’s new young core.
Marco Rossi
After spending the majority of the 2022-23 season with the Iowa Wild in the AHL, the 2020 ninth-overall selection is ready to show that he can be an effective NHL player. He technically had his first goal in the first Minnesota game of the season against the Florida Panthers, but the call was reversed after being declared offside. Rossi eventually batted the puck out of midair after an unsuccessful attempt from alternate captain Marcus Foligno against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
David Jiricek
After a pass from star Patrik Laine, David Jiricek let a snap shot go into absolute chaos in front of New York goaltender Igor Shesterkin. With this shot making it into the net, the rookie gave his team a 4-1 lead over the Rangers. Similar to Rossi, Jiricek spent most of the 2022-23 season in the AHL. The 2022 sixth-overall pick by Columbus is looking to crack the defense core, despite the offseason additions of proven NHLers Damon Severson and Ivan Provorov.
Brayden Pachal
The defending Stanley Cup champions did not make a large number offseason moves, which made it difficult for rookies and young players to crack the lineup. However, injuries to defensemen Alec Martinez and Zach Whitecloud allowed Pachal, an AHL veteran, to move up on the priority list. Pachal topped off his team’s 4-1 win against Pacific Division rival San Jose Sharks with a goal that went past Kaapo Kahkonen. Martinez has since returned but Whitecloud remains on LTIR, so Pachal will absolutely be continuing to make an impression on the Vegas front office.
