Patrik Laine just keeps on impressing.
The 20-year-old kicked his regular season off on the right note with a goal and an assist in a 5-1 win over the St. Louis Blues, leading the way with five shots (along with Kyle Connor) in the route. Laine’s goal came with a bit of extra significance, as it was not only the team’s first goal of the season, but a personal milestone as well. With the marker, Laine moved into a tie with Jaormir Jagr for the second most goals scored by a European player before their 21st birthday. Both players now trail Ilya Kovalchuk, who sits at the top with 108.
That’s some pretty elite company if you had to ask us!
It’s crazy to think that Laine still has plenty of time to surpass Kovalchuk. After notching 44 in the previous season, is it really out of the cards for the Finn to score 28 more to take sole possession of first place? He doesn’t turn 21 until next April and EA Sports recently predicted him to win the Rocket Richard Trophy, so we’re going to say it almost seems likely that he’ll do it at this point (barring an injury).
After struggling to score in the preseason, it’s nice to see the guy picking up where he started last season.
(H/T StatsCentre)
