Anyone who watched Alexis Lafreniere closely could tell it was coming. All the hard work finally paid off when the 19-year-old rookie scored his first NHL goal in the most sensational of circumstances.
Lafreniere netted a Colin Blackwell feed at 2:47 of overtime to give the Rangers a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. The 6-foot-2 wing was immediately swarmed by exuberant teammates. First to greet him was Blackwell, who then rushed to scoop up the history-making puck. K’Andre Miller and Artemi Panarin followed before the entire Rangers’ bench spilled onto the ice to congratulate the 2020 No. 1 overall pick.
I’m sure that fans were getting anxious about Lafreniere’s scoring drought that nearly extended into an eighth game. But even if the rookie hadn’t scored on the night and a seven-game dry spell ballooned to eight, nine, or ten games – what matters most is his encouraging play.
The key for any rookie is to get up to speed with the demands of the fast-paced NHL. Lafreniere was ahead of the game even before he scored his first NHL goal because of his confidence, fearlessness, and work ethic. He was a factor in the games leading up to Thursday. His legs kept moving, he made opposing goaltenders work, and there was never a doubt that he’d eventually break through on the scoresheet in a big way.
Lafreniere became the first Ranger to mark his first career goal with an overtime winner since Mats Zuccarello, who scored a wraparound goal at 3:09 of overtime against the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 5, 2011.
For eight-and-a-half seasons, Zuccarello was a fan favorite. His energetic style of play endeared him to The Garden Faithful. For a long stretch, he became the second-most popular Ranger behind generational goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.
Lafreniere’s path to the NHL was far different than the smaller, undrafted Zuccarello. The drama of the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery gifted the Blueshirts an absolute “can’t miss” talent. From the age of 16 onward, it was very possible that Lafreniere could one day become the first overall pick.
Yet, the hype and the prognostications mean little when a player reaches the NHL. The No. 1 pick billing didn’t matter when Lafreniere skated in Game 1 of his NHL career on Jan. 14 against the Islanders. He was suddenly one of many rookies in the league looking to assert their place.
With each passing game, Lafreniere proved his appetite for contact and demonstrated a hunger to have the puck on his stick. He clearly plays with a big chip on his shoulder, similar to Zuccarello, albeit in a much larger and more physically-dominant frame.
Whether it’s Zuccarello, Jesper Fast, Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, or Adam Graves, Rangers fans gravitate to the guys who wear their heart on their sleeve.
Lafreniere possesses that fierce level of desire and the talent of a No. 1 overall pick. So, there’s no question that he’ll win the hearts of this city.
Follow Sean Hartnett on Twitter: @HartnettHockey
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