Isles Remember: Anders Lee's memorable Islanders debut

Anders Lee made his New York Islanders debut on April 2, 2013, against the Winnipeg Jets. After finishing his final season with Notre Dame, he scored 20 goals and totaled 38 points in 41 games. Two days after signing an NHL entry-level contract with the Islanders, he was kept on the main roster rather than sent to Bridgeport. In his first game, he scored early in the first period, firing a shot from the offensive zone that went off the post and into the net. He later described the goal as both ugly and pretty, and Islanders broadcaster Howie Rose praised the moment.

"On March 30th of that season, Lee skated in his final game as a member of the Norte Dame Fighting Irish. He scored 20 goals and had 38 total points in 41 games that season. Two days later, on April 1st, Lee signed his NHL entry level contract with the Islanders, who drafted him in the 6th round of the 2009 draft. The Isles would make the decision to give him a shot on the main team rather then sending the young forward down to Bridgeport to finish the year out, as most players in similar situations do."

"In the first period of the Isles contest against the Jets, the day after he signed with the team, Lee would make an immediate impact. Taking a pass from longtime Islander Matt Martin into the offensive zone, Lee fired what Jets goalie, Ondrej Pavelec, perceived as a harmless shot on net. The only thing was, it was anything but harmless, it wizzed past Pavelec off the post and into the back of the net for his first NHL tally."

"Lee, with his mouth guard hanging out of his mouth, was estatic. First NHL goal on his first NHL shot in his first NHL game, an incredible feat for someone who was at college two days earlier. In a YouTube video released by NHL in 2023, Lee spoke about if his goal was "Ugly or Pretty?" He had a great response. "Probably a little bit of both to be honest," Lee said, "Shot from pretty far away but it did go post and in, so probably shouldn't have gone in. But hey you don't ask how. I'll tell you that.""

Read at Eyes On Isles