#5 – Travis Dermott and Justin Holl’s first NHL goals
The first meeting between the Leafs and the New York Islanders proved to be a dominating performance by Toronto as they cruised to a 5-0 win. Looking at the box score for this game, it’s clear that the Buds were simply the better team for the entire 60 minutes.
While the game itself was fun for Leafs fans to watch, what makes it stand out are the first NHL goals for Travis Dermott and Justin Holl.
The first one from Dermott saw him strip Matt Barzal of the puck while attempting to exit the zone and force a turnover. He quickly darted towards the goal to position himself for a pass from William Nylander. Once the puck came his way, Dermott simply redirected the puck past Thomas Griess and extended the lead to 4-0.
In the third period, Holl got a great stretch pass from Auston Matthews and was able to skate through some open space along the boards. With little resistance, Holl was able to reach the right faceoff circle and fired a shot that trickled through Griess’ legs to get his first career tally.
What made these goals extra memorable was the reaction of both Dermott and Holl’s dads who were in the stands watching the game.