Brady Skjei, the former Gophers star defenseman from Lakeville, scored his first NHL goal Sunday.
Skjei’s one-timer off a faceoff late in final seconds of the second period deflected off a New Jersey Devils skater for the New York Rangers’ third goal in the 5-0 victory.
“It was awesome,” Skjei told media after the game. “I’ve been waiting awhile and you know I got a lucky bounce, but I’ll take it for sure. I was just tying to get a quick shot on net and kind of one-timer to place it up there, and got a lucky bounce and it went in.”
Skjei was named the game’s third star and awarded the Broadway Hat for game MVP by his teammates.
The former first-round NHL draft pick has scored one goal and has 15 assists in 42 career games with the Rangers. He totaled eight goals and 19 assists while providing a strong defensive presence in three seasons with the Gophers.
“He’s been playing really well for us,” Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. “He seemed real happy.”
The higlight:
#NYR @BradySkjei with his first goal puck and the Broadway Hat!! pic.twitter.com/rE3c7NnrIw
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 12, 2016
"It was awesome." - @BradySkjei after scoring his first NHL goal in tonight's #NYR win over New Jersey. pic.twitter.com/CjJj1yFaxw
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 12, 2016
StribSports Upload is where you’ll see what other people are saying about Minnesota sports. It could be a report from another city’s media following a game. It could be a blog or video from somewhere in Minnesota. It could be serious or funny, on point or off the wall. It could be something you tell us about. Send stuff to Upload here. All correspondence to Upload is on the record unless requested otherwise.
Sometimes taking a knee can blow up in your face
Final score 108-94. Yes, it was a high school football game
Watertown-Mayer ends three-year football losing streak in convincing way
Take your mind off Gophers' horrid ending with this miraculous (almost) score
