It's only fitting that Brock Nelson scored his first career NHL goal in Brocktober.
On this day 11 years ago, New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson scored his first NHL goal.
Now, 845 games and 277 goals later, Nelson sits seventh on the Islanders' all-time goal list.
Nelson is ten goals away from tying both Brent Sutter and Pat LaFontaine with 287, so he is 11 away from sole possession of fifth place.
Eleven years ago at the Nassau Coliseum, on Oct. 22, 2013, the Islanders fell to Vancouver Canucks in overtime by a 5-4 score.
Nelson's goal opened the scoring just 2:26 into the game.
He had no idea it was today and tried his best to break down how it happened to Stefen Rosner:
"It was at The Coliseum. I've obviously seen it a couple of times, just the highlight. Cal Clutterbuck and Peter Regin assisted on it," Nelson told THN. "Can't remember which one of the two; I think it might have been Reegs who wrapped it, and then I was just able to find a rebound, and I think it just snuck through the five-hole."
His memory is pretty good:
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmgxjkzqehE[/embed]
The moment was special for Brock as a 22-year-old.
"It was a dream come true at that moment, just being able to play and score a goal."
Nelson, now 33 years old, is one of the longest-tenured Islanders, along with captain Anders Lee and Casey Cizikas.
He wears an "A" as an alternate captain.
A lot has changed in the 11 years since his first goal. He feels that the moment does and doesn't seem long ago in different ways.
"Not really in terms of how much you enjoy being around the rink and the guys that we've had here and some that were here then, but then yes, when you think the bigger picture in life, and kids and whatnot. So, yeah, kind of crazy."
It is fitting that Nelson, known as "Brocktober" by some Islanders fans for his high-scoring numbers in the month of October, scored his first in the NHL in October.
The Islanders will be in action tonight against the Detroit Red Wings as Nelson will look to score on the anniversary of his first NHL goal.
Puck drop between the Red Wings and Islanders will be at 7:45 pm, a later start at UBS Arena to accommodate the NHL's "Frozen Frenzy."