Victor Eklund’s Birthday Bash Comes With His First NHL Goal

Victor Eklund scored his first NHL goal on his 20th birthday, added an assist for his first two-point game and celebrated with his mom at UBS Arena.

PHOTO: Dennis DaSilva / New York Islanders

ELMONT, NY — You only turn 20 once. You also only score your first NHL goal once.

Well, New York Islanders rookie forward Victor Eklund accomplished both today, with his mom in the stands to celebrate an amazing 9-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday:

Not only that, but as the Player of the Game, Eklund joined MSG Network’s Shannon Hogan on the Islanders’ bench for a postgame interview.

That’s when the entirety of UBS Arena sang happy birthday to the birthday boy:

Following the game, we spoke with Eklund about the achievement, while The Elmonters also asked Bo Horvat, Cal Ritchie and Simon Holmstrom about the play of the rookie, who also recorded an assist for his first career two-point night: