Video: Anthony Beauvillier scores first NHL goal for Islanders

Anthony Beauvillier is 19 years old and barely over two games into his NHL career, but tonight he’s already got a lifetime keepsake.

The New York Islanders 2015 draft pick (28th overall) scored his first NHL goal by driving the net on his backhand after a feed from Josh Bailey. He converted by shoveling the puck toward the net, chopping at the rebound, and Jedi mind-tricking the puck into the net behind San Jose Sharks goalie Aaron Dell, a fellow rookie making his NHL debut.

The goal came at a good time, too. After an alarmingly moribund first period — one where Beauvillier had only four shifts and 2:43 of ice time — the Islanders were trailing San Jose, which played across town last night, 1-0. Their second-period effort was looking better but had yet to pay off.

Just two minutes after Beauvillier’s goal, Anders Lee scored to give the Isles a 2-1 lead. But the Sharks scored late in the period to send the game to the second intermission tied 2-2.

[Update: The Isles lost, on a late Joe Pavelski goal. Recap coming soon.]

Still on the Cusp

Beauvillier made the Isles roster out of training camp along with fellow 19-year-old Mathew Barzal. Both need to either stick with the team or be returned to their junior squads.

One milestone in that effort will be when they reach nine NHL games played, as any games played after that trigger the first full year of their entry level contracts. But for now, Beauvillier has an unforgettable milestone no matter what happens the rest of the way in 2016-17.