Video: Spectacular first NHL goal for Dallas Stars' Antoine Roussel
Every kid imagines what his first NHL goal will be like. An end-to-end rush. Defenders' jocks flying everywhere. Goaltender flailing helplessly. The crowd chanting your name. Being called a monster by Pierre McGuire.
And if it doesn't work out to be an epic display of marksmanship, well it will be by the time you tell the story to the grandkids.
Truth is, most NHLers end up having to embellish their first goal stories. Most, after all, are spit more than polish (just ask Gabriel Landeskog, whose first last season bounced in off his boot.)
That won't be a problem for Dallas rookie Antoine Roussel. Playing in his first NHL game Friday after being called up from Texas, the 23-year-old, native of Roubaix, France buried one of those dream goals. Midway through the first, on just his third shift, he took a pass in the neutral zone from Ryan Garbutt, hit top speed, split the defense and went in alone on last year's playoff hero, Mike Smith. A gentle deke, a quick flick on the backhand and...
See it for yourself here: