‘An unbelievable feeling’: Drew Fortescue helps Rangers win in NHL debut
Drew Fortescue’s NHL debut with the New York Rangers couldn’t have gone much better.
The 20-year-old defenseman, who signed with the Blueshirts after his third season at Boston College ended a week earlier, didn’t look out of place Friday helping the Rangers pummel the Chicago Blackhawks 6-1 at Madison Square Garden.
He nearly scored his first goal just 10:14 into his first period of NHL action, but his shot hit the post and stayed out. However, he did pick up his first NHL point with an assist on Jonny Brodzinski’s second goal of the game at 16:00 of the third period. That triggered an eruption from the 200 or so family and friends who made the trip down from Pearl River, New York, for his NHL debut.
Before all that, Fortescue took the traditional rookie lap that marks a player’s NHL debut. The third-round pick (No. 93 overall) in the 2023 NHL had several of his BC teammates cheering him on along the boards — and got plenty of cheers from the friends and family members who made the trip to the city for his big night.
“It was something I always dreamed about,” he said of playing in his first NHL game. “Once I got to the bench after and I took a stop and kind of looked around and saw everyone, was able to see some of my cousins and family members and my parents in the crowd, (it) definitely was an unbelievable feeling, and a feeling that I’ll never forget.”
Coach Mike Sullivan was impressed with Fortescue’s play during his 17:23 of ice time.
“I thought he was solid,” Sullivan said postgame, after the Rangers ended a six-game losing streak (0-5-1). “For the most part, he played the game with composure. He didn’t just throw pucks away. He made some outlet passes. He had good poise. I thought he had a high-panic threshold. He didn’t throw pucks away when he was under pressure, he protected it. He defended well. I think he’s got a good stick, decent mobility.
“There’s a lot to like about Drew’s game. For such a young kid in his first NHL game, I thought he played really well.”
New kids on the block fuel Rangers’ rout of Blackhawks
But Fortescue wasn’t the only new member of the Rangers’ kiddie corps to have a “first” in the win against the Hawks.
Goaltender Dylan Garand and forward Adam Sykora, who made their NHL debuts earlier in the week, each made a major contribution to the victory. Garand was the game’s First Star after making 28 saves for his first NHL victory. Sykora scored his first NHL goal in his second game after making his debut on Wednesday. He was named the game’s Second Star, with Fortescue earning Third Star Honors.
“I think we’re all hungry,” Garand explained. “This is kind of, for some of us, our opportunity. Guys like me and [Sýkora], we’ve been playing in (AHL) Hartford for a long time and we finally get to play games. We’re hungry and we’re excited to try and help this team win in any way we can. It’s a lot of fun right now.”
It was the first time in nearly 94 years that the Rangers had three players earn such milestones in a single game. The last time was Nov. 10, 1932, when center Carl Voss scored his first NHL goal, center Ossie Asmundson played in his first NHL game and goalie Andy Aitkenhead earned his first NHL win in the Blueshirts’ 4-2 season-opening victory against the Montreal Maroons at the Forum.
Adam Sykora savors first NHL goal
Sykora scored his first NHL goal at 8:20 of the second period, finishing off a perfect pass from Will Cuylle by beating Arvid Soderblom off the rush to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead.
“I couldn’t describe the feeling,” Sykora said. “You play the first game (Wednesday), then you have a goal. I just appreciate every moment here to be around these guys and … help them to win games. And just enjoy every second I got an opportunity to play here.”
Cuylle made some history of his own by assisting on Sykora’s goal. It was the fourth time this season that he had the primary assist on a Rangers rookie’s first goal — Cuylle set up Noah Laba’s goal on Oct. 26 and Gabe Perreault’s first goal on Dec. 18. He also assisted on since-traded forward Brennan Othmann’s first NHL goal on Jan. 17.
Dylan Garand in line for more starts after first NHL victory
Garand earned his first win in his second NHL start, allowing only a goal by Nick Lardis at 17:34 of the first period that gave Chicago a brief 1-0 lead. He was also the First Star on Sunday after a 35-save performance against the Winnipeg Jets in a 3-2 shootout loss.
“This is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” he said of win No. 1.
The 23-year-old goalie was happy to share the spotlight with his fellow rookies — and especially with Sykora, a teammate for three seasons in Hartford, the Rangers’ AHL affiliate.
“So glad to do it with a guy like (Sykora),” he said. “I know him really well and I can speak on behalf of the guys from Hartford — we’re all so proud of him and so happy for him. He deserves it. He’s such a great guy, like, we all love him. It’s awesome to share this moment with him.”
Sullivan likes what he sees from Garand.
“I thought he looked really solid in there, and that’s the second game in a row I felt that way,” Sulivan explained. “It’s two really good starts for him, and I’m happy for him because I know how hard he’s worked to get to this point. It’s great for our team, it’s great for our organization.
“The feeling I’ve gotten behind the bench in the two starts that he’s had is that he’s completely in control and he has good composure in there.”
Garand got his chance to play when backup goalie Jonathan Quick sustained an injury last week. Quick is nearing a return, but Sullivan answered positively when asked whether Garand earned more starts.
“That would probably be a fair statement just based on his performance to this point,” he said. “As this moves forward, when eventually we get a healthy ‘Quickie’ back, I think [GM Chris Drury] and I will sit and probably have a conversation around it.”
