New York Rangers‘ 6th round pick in the 2013 draft (#170 overall) rookie goalie Mackenzie Skapski(70) had been playing well for minor league affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack earning him a first recall to the parent club.
He got pressed into action as King Henrik is injured and the complete workload is tough to unload solely on back up Cam Talbot.
In his first NHL game he saved 24 of 25 shots in the 3-1 victory, which gives him a 1.00 GAA and .960 SV%, quite literally a very good start.
The 6’3″ 198 lbs. net minder has a 12-7-3 record in 24 AHL games with a 2.38 GAA and .916 SV%.
In three years of juniors with Kootenay Ice, he consistently put up better numbers each season and was a workhorse playing 65 then 53 games in his last two campaigns.
The 20-year is signed to a three year entry level deal so has plenty of time continue his development but no doubt now that he’s had a taste of the big league it will be tough to go back to riding buses.
He is also one of the few players each year to appear in all three premiere leagues in one hockey season, as he started his pro career with a game in the ECHL for Greenville Road Warriors.