Maple Leafs' Rasmus Sandin bangs home first NHL goal
Aesthetically it wasn’t very pretty, but through the eyes of Rasmus Sandin, it must’ve been just the most beautiful sight.
For Leafs fans it surely was, too.
After showing flashes of offensive brilliance through his first nine games with the big club, the Leafs’ rookie defenceman finally tallied his first NHL goal on Monday night in Nashville versus the Predators.
Rasmus Sandin gets his first career NHL goal! pic.twitter.com/AwQHnUSDtc
— Leafs ALL Day (@LeafsAllDayy) January 28, 2020
Sandin is having himself a night against the Predators, as he also helped William Nylander open the scoring in the first frame with this ridiculous bouncing gem of a lob-pass right on Willy’s tape to send him in alone.
Great stretch pass by Sandin leads to a Nylander goal. 1-0 Leafs. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/F5J8mEiuVp
— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) January 28, 2020
Sandin has been exceptional since his recall to the show, posting two helpers and a goal in four games, while showing tonnes of poise, creativity and confidence as the team’s top power-play quarterback with Morgan Rielly sidelined.
On top of playing at a 50-ish-point-pace over his first 10 NHL contests, the Leafs control just around 57 percent of shot attempts with Sandin on the ice, despite the blueliner starting in the defensive zone nearly 60 percent of the time.
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