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Oilers’ top pick Puljujarvi scores first NHL goal in debut

2016 NHL Draft - Round One

BUFFALO, NY - JUNE 24: Jesse Puljujarvi celebrates after being selected fourth overall by the Edmonton Oilers during round one of the 2016 NHL Draft on June 24, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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The opening night of the 2016-17 NHL season turned out to be a great night for the 2016 draft class.

After top pick Auston Matthews made NHL history by becoming the first rookie to ever score four goals in his debut game, Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi, the No. 4 overall pick, played a strong game in Edmonton and scored his first career goal in the third period of the Oilers’ 7-4 win.

Here is a look at the play as he beats Flames goalie Brian Elliott for what the Oilers hope will be the first of many goals in the league.

That is a soft goal for Elliott to give up, something that was a pretty big problem for him most of the night.

The Oilers ended up with Puljujarvi, considered for months leading up to the draft to be one of the top-three players in the 2016 class, after the Columbus Blue Jackets passed on him at No. 3 to take Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Now that Matthews and Puljujarvi have already combined for five goals in their debuts, there is going to be some pressure on No. 2 pick Patrik Laine to have a big game for the Winnipeg Jets.