You never forget your first.
Ottawa Senators rookies Cole Reinhardt and Tyler Kleven both notched their first NHL goals this week, and they couldn’t have come at a better time. They each scored in back-to-back one-goal victories, providing a much-needed spark for the Senators after an ugly five-game losing streak.
Reinhardt’s debut was especially eventful. With David Perron sidelined due to an upper-body injury, Reinhardt received the call-up just five hours before the puck drop on Monday. He had earned his spot with a strong performance in the AHL, posting 14 points in his first 11 games to lead all Belleville skaters.
He carried that momentum into Ottawa, scoring his first NHL goal on Monday night in a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames.
“Yeah, it’s what you dream of,” Reinhardt told the media. “I know that sounds cliche, but I mean, just from your first game to the first goal is pretty surreal.”
Reinhardt was one of five 2020 Senator draft picks to suit up in the game on Monday. One of them, Ridly Greig, his old Brandon Wheat King teammate, set him up for the dream goal. The other three picks in the game from that draft were Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, and Tyler Kleven.
Kleven lit the lamp two nights later in San Jose, where the Senators looked as jet lagged as any team in the history of jet lag. But Kleven gave them a boost when he stepped into a 92 mile-per-hour rocket from the left point. The shot beat Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood between the legs and helped the Sens nail down their second 4-3 victory in as many games.
“Oh, I was so excited,” Kleven told the media after the game. “I just had a head rush and I was kind of hoping I wouldn’t be put out for the next shift. I was on such a high. I mean, it’s been a long time coming, and I’m glad I could help out the team.”
Kleven, who isn’t in the league to be a point producer, didn’t put much thought into the shot.
“Claude Giroux just made a really nice play and I just kind of buried my head and prayed it would go in.”
If Reinhardt and Kleven’s first NHL goals can be sparks to help ignite their season the Senators would be more than fine with that.
In the meantime, if good things come in threes, keep an eye on centre Zack Ostapchuk on Saturday. If he gets to suit up again, he’ll still be looking for his first NHL goal too.
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