Tanner Fritz has his first NHL goal. He netted a wrist shot against Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk, as his New York Islanders fell 5-3 Monday.
Speaking with MSG Networks in the next intermission, the Grande Prairie Storm alumni said scoring was a long time coming.
“I thought maybe I’d get it a little bit sooner but it’s just a big monkey off my back and good things happen when you throw pucks on net. I’m very lucky to get that and very fortunate; it’s just an unbelievable feeling.”
Fritz has played 14 NHL games so far this season, since first being called up by the Islanders at the beginning of 2018. He was sidelined by an injury for a week-and-a-half earlier this month.
“I think I started off slow my first few games,” he told MSG Networks, “but I think even from just watching a few games in the stands you kind of take a step back and kind of take it all in. I just came back into the lineup and tried to play my game with a little more confidence with the puck.”
In the AHL, Fritz played 33 games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers this season, but is no longer on the active roster. During that time he scored 10 goals and 27 assists.