Rookies Axel Andersson and Jakub Lauko dressed in their first professional National Hockey League preseason game on Sept. 16 and made an early impression.
Andersson and Lauko were the Boston Bruins’ top two picks from the 2018 NHL Entry draft, and the 18-year-olds both received praise on their big impact in Sunday’s shootout win over the Washington Capitals.
“I would put those two guys, as far as young guys, in the same category as getting off to a good start for their first game overseas here playing against a team that was obviously missing a lot of players, but they came out hard, especially in the second half of the game,” Bruins assistant coach Joe Sacco said. “They started to pressure us, and they handled it well, both those guys.”
Andersson, who paired up with captain Zdeno Chara, seemed satisfied with his performance.
“It went pretty good,” Andersson said. “I played my own game, so I’m pretty happy with that. I tried not to think about it, just to play hockey.”
Sacco said the young defenseman looked comfortable on the ice.
“[Andersson] seemed really poised back there,” Sacco said.” [He] wasn’t nervous, went back for pucks, didn’t seem to get rattled or anything. Even when the pressure came on him a few times, he didn’t seem to back off. He stuck with it.”
Lauko lined up alongside Joona Koppannen and Marcel Noebels on the fourth line. He scored late in the first period to put the Bruins ahead when he went five-hole on Captial’s goaltender Pheonix Copley.
The 18-year-old @jakub_lauko scored his first professional goal to get the #NHLBruins going in the shootout victory. pic.twitter.com/EZO8q2guA2
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) September 16, 2018
When asked if scoring his first goal took off some weight, the young forward said he wasn’t sure what to do after scoring.
“It was a good feeling,” Lauko said. “After that, I didn’t know what to do. I was there like ‘Oh my God I scored. What to do now?’ It was good. Nice feeling.”
While it was only one game, Lauko is hoping that his strong play and speedy skating can help him stay in America this season.
“I’m trying a lot,” Lauko said. “I’m trying to learn on the ice and off the ice. And I hope I can stay for next season—for Providence. It doesn’t matter where, but I want to stay in America. I’m trying to stay here. I’m giving everything for it.”
