First goal just the start for Senators’ Stuetzle
OTTAWA — Tim Stuetzle can check another box off his list.
On Friday night, before his first NHL game, he celebrated his 19th birthday by doing a solo rookie lap to start the warmup at the Canadian Tire Centre before a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, a moment he won’t soon forget.
On Saturday night, Stuetzle followed up by scoring his first career goal in the Senators 3-2 loss to the Leafs at home. Now, the club’s top pick in the NHL draft in October can concentrate on just settling into his new home with his teammates.
“It was definitely a great feeling,” said Stuetzle, who added the only way it could have been better is if the Senators had come back to win. “It’s something I won’t ever forget and it was awesome being there.”
Stuetzle has looked comfortable in the two games he’s suited up with the Senators. The goal against the Leafs was a thing of beauty as he waited patiently for the puck to land on the ice and was able to fire it by Toronto goalie Jack Campbell at 11:44 of the third.
“(The puck) was kind of flat,” said Stuetzle. “(Coach) D.J. (Smith) had told us to bring more pucks to the net. I hit it very good.”
Even Campbell was impressed with Stuetzle’s skill on the play.
“The only thing I can think of, other than to say I should have had it, was I want to shake his hand,” said Campbell. “That was a heck of a play. What a young talent. It’s good for the league.”
Of course, Campbell wasn’t alone on that front. If there had been fans in the building, they would have erupted because Stuetzle has come as advertised. There hasn’t been this kind of excitement surrounding an Ottawa pick since the club selected Jason Spezza No. 2 overall in 2001 or Alexandre Daigle No. 1 in 1993.
Stuetzle was the thirdyoungest player in franchise history to score his first goal for the Senators. He joined a group that included Daigle and the late Pavol Demitra, who both notched their first NHL goals as 18-year-olds on Oct. 9, 1993 in a 7-5 loss to the St. Louis Blues on the road. In fact, Daigle scored twice that night and had an assist.
Trying to get adjusted to life in a new country after joining the Senators following a trip to the world junior championship in Edmonton with Team Germany, Stuetzle doesn’t have to face the pressure of trying to press for his first goal.
“It’s tough to come in here, a bunch of new people and only have a few practices and go in to play the Toronto Maple Leafs,” said Smith. “To come out of two games with a goal under your belt — and he’s just learning the systems — he’s going to be a really good player.
“You could see his speed, and it’s great he gets that (goal). I think you’re going to see more and more of that as the year goes on.”
The Senators had Sunday off and returned to the ice Monday.