James Hagens Already Knows Who Deserves His First Bruins Goal Puck originally appeared on NESN.
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James Hagens scored the goal. Someone else is getting the souvenir. After recording his first NHL goal in the Bruins’ 4-3 overtime victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, Hagens already knew where the puck belonged.
“I’ll definitely give it to my parents,” Hagens told the Bruins’ team website.
For Boston fans, the night offered another reason to get excited about the young forward. For Hagens, it provided something he could share with the people who helped him get there.
The 19-year-old scored during the first period, helping Boston take a 2-1 lead. The Bruins eventually needed a late equalizer from Elias Lindholm and an overtime winner from JJ Peterka to escape Winnipeg with two points. But one of the most memorable scenes came well before that finish.
Jeremy Swayman Joined A Celebration Worth Watching
Hagens’ teammates made sure his milestone received the attention it deserved. Fraser Minten and Peterka joined the celebration, and Jeremy Swayman even left his crease to congratulate the rookie at the bench. In a competitive road game, Boston’s goaltender made time to recognize a moment Hagens will only experience once.
That reaction added something the scoring summary cannot show. A first NHL goal represents an individual achievement, but the Bruins treated it as something everybody could enjoy. For a young player trying to establish himself, that kind of reception can make an unfamiliar stage feel a little more comfortable.
Hagens still has plenty to prove. One goal does not settle questions about his production or how he will handle the demands of an NHL season. It does give him a starting point, and a particularly happy one.
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There was also a useful hockey element to the milestone.
Hagens scored near the net after Mark Kastelic and Nikita Zadorov helped create the opportunity. The finish rewarded his willingness to get into a crowded area and make himself available. Those opportunities matter for a young forward. Every shift will not produce a clean rush or an open shooting lane. Sometimes the chance comes from arriving in the right place while bodies and sticks surround the crease.
Friday gave Hagens a successful example to build on.
Boston left Winnipeg unbeaten through two games, with another road matchup against Minnesota waiting Saturday. The season will move quickly, and the attention will soon shift to the next result.
The puck can serve a different purpose.
Years from now, the standings from the first week of October might require a little research. Hagens’ family will have a much easier way to remember this particular night.
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