In his first NHL game, Valentin Zykov scored the kind of goal you’d expect from a rugged, experience player.
Zykov joined the Carolina Hurricanes organization in February 2016 as part of the trade that sent Kris Versteeg to the Los Angeles Kings. (This post’s main image comes from the 2013 NHL Draft, when Los Angeles selected him 37th overall.)
One neat bonus twist: Jordan Staal assisted on the goal, while Zykov muscled Marc Staal and Ryan McDonagh to make the play happen. A family affair, everyone.
The Hurricanes’ Twitter feed did well here:
.@NHL HAPPY VALENTIN'S DAY! ❤️️#Redvolution #NYRvsCAR pic.twitter.com/AbjgPoz1zC
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) March 10, 2017
As tough as that moment was for Rangers defenders, Kevin Hayes suffered a more direct sort of pain tonight:
Yow.
Carolina ended up winning the game 4-3 in regulation.