'Antifreeze in the veins': Jets' Sami Niku makes impact in NHL debut

First NHLgame. First shot. First goal.

Winnipeg Jets defenceman SamiNiku's National Hockey League debut was one for the ages, even more so considering it happened on the home ice of the storied Montreal Canadiens.

But the 21-year-old Finn was unflappable in the face of the pressure.

"I felt pretty good but I can play much, much better than I playtoday," he said in a post-game scrum.

His composure was not lost on head coach Paul Maurice.

"Antifreeze in the veins, that's the way he looked," Maurice told reporters. "Pretty cool out there."

Niku'sgoal came in the third period, 24 seconds after Montreal had tied the game 3-3.

Kyle Connor dished a pass from the side of the Habs' net toward teammate Andrew Copp in the slot. Coppmissed on the shot and the puck sailed to Niku, who wristedit past Carey Price.

"I saw the puck coming and then I shot.I think it was lucky but it was nice," Niku said about the shot, which changed direction off one of theCanadiensplayers in front of Price.

"Of course it was really nice to play my first game in [the Bell Centre]. Montreal is sobighockeytown. It was nice, and to score a goal here," he said, adding that his closest friends and family were watching back in Finland.

Niku, in his first year in North America,has spent most of the season with the Jets'American Hockey League affiliate, scoring 15 goals and 37 assists for 52 points in 71 games for the Manitoba Moose.

Maurice said his play in the AHLearned him a test in the NHL.

"We wanted to see him against good competition and and he had theconfidenceto get up into the rush," the coach said.

Given a shift in overtime, Nikuused his speed to get around aHabsplayer and create a good scoring chance.

"There's lots to like there," Maurice said. "I didn't think there was a lot of risk in his game. I thought it was smart plays.

"In traffic he didn't panic with the puck. He moved it pretty efficiently all the things that a youngdefencemanhas to learn. The skill set that he has is impressive."

Asked about the pace of the big league, Niku'sanswer was,predictably, nonchalant.

"I was fine with that. It wasn't so bad."

Maurice, who gave a rest to six Jetsstarters in the lead up to the playoffs, liked what he saw in his young guns, giving a nod to JackRoslovicand Kyle Connor. Both chipped in with goals, Connor with the overtime winner.

"[That's] great for a first-year player," Maurice said about Connor. "He's developed really strongly this year and he's got such a quick release coming off the stick. It's gone before, I think, the goaltender can set."

The goal was Connor's30thof the year, giving him the lead in theNHLrookie goal-scoring race. Healso leads all rookies in game-winning goals, with six.

Roslovic was playing for the first time since mid-March and didn't miss a step, scoringon a one-timer in the second period.

"I'm really happy with his game. He's going to be a good player for us," Maurice said.

Faced with veteran superstars and a bundle of up-and-coming rookie and sophomore talent, the coach was asked if he'll have trouble fitting some guys into the lineup.

The answer started with a smile that broke through his typically steelyface.

"We got a pretty good team here."