Kieffer Bellows records first career point in NHL debut with Islanders
Kieffer Bellows of the Islanders skates during the first period against the Stars at Barclays Center on Tuesday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Kieffer Bellows took the solo lap in pregame warmups afforded all rookies making their NHL debut.
And after the Islanders’ 4-3 overtime win over the Stars on Tuesday night at Barclays Center, Bellows learned during a media scrum he had gotten his first career point when his secondary assist was added to Derick Brassard’s second-period goal.
“You,” the 21-year-old Bellows told the Newsday reporter who asked him who had informed him of the scoring change.
In all, Bellows logged 9:10 on 13 shifts with one shot after being recalled from the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport on Monday.
“Stepping on the ice, knowing it was my first NHL game, was pretty emotional,” said Bellows, the 19th overall pick in 2016 who has 16 goals and eight assists for Bridgeport, including 15 goals in his last 26 games.
“I’d be very happy if I was him,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “He didn’t look out of place. He looked like he belonged. But that’s one game. The adrenaline is there, the excitement. The trick is to maintain it.”
He is the son of Brian Bellows, the second overall pick in 1982 who had 485 goals and 537 assists in 1,188 regular-season games for the Minnesota North Stars — who moved to Dallas in 1993 — the Canadiens, Lightning, Ducks and Capitals. Brian Bellows won a Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1993.
He and his wife, Tracy, attended Tuesday’s game.
Isles files
Defenseman Sebastian Aho, a healthy scratch in all 12 games since being recalled from Bridgeport on Jan. 2, was re-assigned to the Sound Tigers. Bridgeport plays on Wednesday morning and Aho is likely to be recalled for Thursday’s game against the Kings…The Islanders are 5-0-3 at Barclays Center…The attendance was 10,128…Brassard scored his first goal in 19 games…Tom Kuhnhackl and Ross Johnston were healthy scratches.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
