Red Wings teammates jump with joy as Axel-Sandin Pellikka scores first NHL goal vs. Lightning Friday
Photo credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The Detroit Red Wings have had rookie defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka hit a milestone tonight in the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on home ice while scoring his first NHL goal.
Former 1st-round pick and defensive prodigy Axel Sandin-Pellika hit a milestone in his NHL career tonight.
Against the Red Wings' Atlantic Division foes, the Lightning, Sandin-Pellika scored his first NHL goal on goaltender Andrei Vasilevskyi, going blocker side on the elite Russian.
Sandin Pellikka has shown the Red Wings front office that he's been worth every penny, as tonight, in his 5th NHL game, he's shown why he was a 17th overall pick in 2023:
A daunting task for some, but ASP made it look easy.
The Detroit Red Wings' 17th Overall Pick in 2023 Axel Sandin Pellikka scores beauty first NHL goal
This was his first NHL goal and his first NHL point as a defenseman. Before turning pro this season, he made the jump to the AHL, where he'd suit up for two games with the Grand Rapids Griffins and score 1 point (1A).
He made the Red Wings' opening night roster out of camp and has impressed McLellan and the front office enough to earn a spot on the 2nd pairing and 2nd power-play unit.
ASP was welcomed back to the bench like a hero after his first NHL game, engulfed in enthusiasm by his teammates, and joining him on the ice tonight for his first point was rookie Emmitt Finnie, who scored his first point last week.
Assists on the goal were Captain Dylan Larkin and Mason Appleton. The future looks bright for the Red Wings with the youth movement producing in the NHL.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
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