Canadiens’ Daniel Carr scores first NHL goal on first shot of first shift in first game

Montreal Canadiens rookie Daniel Carr isn’t even through his first career game, and already it couldn’t be going any better. Carr scored on his first shot of the first shift of his NHL career. Carr was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2014.

There’s no doubt that 24-year-old Daniel Carr’s NHL dream was to one day play in the NHL. But not even the biggest dreamer could expect to score his first career goal on the very first shift in his very first game in the NHL.

Carr, who was signed to a two-year entry-level deal by the Canadiens in 2014, got the call to join Montreal on Nov. 29, but had yet to suit up for a game heading into Saturday. However, with the Habs visiting the Carolina Hurricanes on Hockey Night in Canada, Carr was inserted into the lineup in a fourth-line role and made an immediate impact.

After picking up a loose puck at the side of the net, Carr swung around the net and beat Hurricanes netminder Cam Ward to the far post, tucking in a wraparound for his first career goal in the big league:

Carr came to the Canadiens by way of the NCAA’s Union College, where he helped his club to an NCAA title in 2013-14. In 160 career NCAA contests, Carr was nearly a point per game player. Over his four seasons in with Union, he scored 78 goals and 157 points, with his best season coming in his final campaign when he scored 22 goals and 50 points in 39 games.

Following his fourth season in the NCAA, Carr signed his two-year deal and was immediately an impact player in the AHL. In 2014-15 with the Hamilton Bulldogs, Carr notched 24 goals and 39 points, with his goal total being the most among all rookies.