Victor Eklund’s 20th birthday turned into a full Nassau Coliseum-style moment Saturday as the New York Islanders rookie scored his first NHL goal in a 6-0 shutout of the New Jersey Devils.
The Stockholm native, selected 16th overall by the Islanders in the 2025 NHL Draft, was named the game’s first star after helping New York roll past its division rival. It was a milestone night for the young forward, with his first goal arriving on a birthday he is unlikely to forget.
The celebration continued after the final horn. During Eklund’s postgame interview, the Islanders crowd broke into “Happy Birthday,” giving the 20-year-old a serenade from the stands. Eklund acknowledged the fans by waving and tapping the glass as he left the bench area.
For the Islanders, it was a six-goal win. For Eklund, it was the first entry on the NHL scoresheet that will always come with a birthday story.
