As the Detroit Red Wings began their centennial season on Thursday evening, there was an aura of anticipation among the sellout crowd at Little Ceasars Arena - not just for the new campaign, but for the injection of youth into the lineup.
Rookies Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, and Emmitt Finnie, all of whom sufficiently impressed Detroit's management and coaching staff in Training Camp and pre-season play to earn a roster spot, appeared in their first NHL contest.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, who tallied seven total points in pre-season play, was held off the scoresheet against the Montreal Canadiens but did register two shots on goal while skating on a line with J.T. Compher and Andrew Copp.
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He also received a notable cheer from the fans during the special pre-game introductions, which he appreciated, though he said his focus remained on the upcoming task at hand.
"I mean, It means a lot," he said of the hearty reception from the sellout crowd. "But at that moment I couldn't really hear it because I was so focused on the game, and a little nervous."
"I appreciated it a lot."
While making his NHL debut could have felt like a daunting challenge, Brandsegg-Nygård said he wasn’t fazed by it. He felt like he belonged, but admitted it was a disappointing performance by the team as a whole in their frustrating 5-1 loss.
"I felt pretty good, it feels like I belong here almost. It wasn't too hard to play, but at the same time, the whole team could have done a better job. We lost 5-1, and even though we had a couple good chances, we gave up more."
Brandsegg-Nygård has developed a reputation throughout his young playing career as being a physical presence on the ice, something he plans on continuing on Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"It's always my mindset to play as hard as I can," he said. "Every time I start a game, everything else comes with that - the chances always come when you play harder. I'm just trying to play hard."
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