Brayden Yager scores his first NHL goal with family in the stands
The Jets rookie drew a double minor and scored on the ensuing power play for his first NHL point.
Brayden Yager's parents and grandfather were at Canada Life Centre on Sunday to see him score his first NHL goal. It was also his first NHL point, in the Winnipeg Jets' 4–3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Yager drew a four-minute penalty when Tampa Bay's Pontus Holmberg caught him with a high stick 6:19 into the third period. He was back on the ice in time to convert with nine seconds left in the first minor. Viggo Björck set up Yager near the crease, and the rookie beat Andrei Vasilevskiy at 8:10 to make it 3–0.
“Mom, dad and grandpa were here, so it was pretty cool to do it in front of them,” Yager told reporters after the game.
Yager was also involved in the play that started Tampa Bay's comeback. Anthony Cirelli took the puck from him behind the Winnipeg net and fed Brandon Hagel for the Lightning's first goal. Jets coach Scott Arniel said the play showed how quickly pressure arrives in the NHL and that Yager could build on the things he did well.
