Nikita Scherbak has dream debut in first game with Canadiens
Published 1:30 am Sunday, January 8, 2017
Nikita Scherbak had a very special NHL debut.
The former Everett Silvertips forward made his NHL debut for the Montreal Canadiens Saturday night at Toronto and scored on his first NHL shot coming via the power play just before the end of the opening period:
The Canadiens held on to beat Toronto 5-3 for their 13th consecutive victory over the Maple Leafs.
Montreal head coach Michel Therrien showed no compunction about using Scherbak on the power play in his NHL debut.
Following the game, Scherbak, who was selected 26th overall by Montreal in the 2014 NHL draft, posted the following:
Moment that I will never forget! Sometimes it's even better than you dream about. #gohabsgo
A photo posted by Nikita Scherbak (@nikscherbak) on
The Canadiens posted the following tweet from the dressing room featuring a video of Scherbak talking about the goal. He was modest, crediting the goal to a lucky break:
"Honestly, I only dreamed to step on the ice in my first NHL game, and I scored a goal. It's amazing.'' – Scherbak https://t.co/7jgiCt0JGE.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 8, 2017
And don’t forget the obligatory post with the puck:
Le premier de plusieurs! // The first of many!
? @nikscherbak! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/soihe4XMe4
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 8, 2017
Scherbak became the 17th former Silvertips player to debut in the National Hockey League.
Acquired from the Saskatoon Blades prior to the 2014-15 season, Scherbak was the Silvertips leading scorer in 2014-15, helping the franchise capture its fourth U.S. Division title. His 82 points that season rank fourth while his 55 assists and plus-33 rating are each tied for third among all-time single-season franchise records.
There was also plenty of reaction among those from the Silvertips organization and beyond:
Big congrats to former @WHLsilvertips player @nikscherbak on his first NHL goal. Atta boy Scherby!!!
— Rod Egan (@rodegan) January 8, 2017
Not a bad first @NHL game @nikscherbak congrats on the accomplishment of your first tuck in the show
— Mitch Love (@mlovehockey) January 8, 2017
@nikscherbak congrats to you Nikita – one of the most electrifying Silvertips ever
— Kevin Constantine (@KlcCoach) January 8, 2017
.@nikscherbak scores in his first @NHL game! ? https://t.co/vOYf0sOwP6
— St. John's IceCaps (@IceCapsAHL) January 8, 2017
Scherbak celly, can't wait to see more of this kid with the big club #Habs pic.twitter.com/mPLSUGUro2
— Shayne Pasquino (@shaynepasquino) January 8, 2017
In other news the Portland Winterhawks also cancelled Sunday’s game with Kamloops. That probably should have happened anyway since the Blazers played a home game Saturday night and were scheduled for a 5 p.m. start Sunday in Portland. There still has been no makeup date announced for Saturday’s game with Everett that was postponed.
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