New York Rangers first-round pick Lias Andersson scored the first goal of his career for the AHL Hartford Wolf Pack today.

Lias Andersson, the first round pick of the New York Rangers in the 2017 NHL Draft, scored his first professional goal for the Hartford Wolf Pack in a matinee game on Wednesday against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Andersson put in a rebound from a shot taken from the blue line from Wolf Pack defenseman Ryan Graves. Ryan Gropp had the secondary assist. The goal at the time gave the Wolf Pack a 1-0 first-period lead.

Following the World Junior Championships played in Buffalo, Andersson came to New York instead of going back to Sweden to continue rehabbing a shoulder injury suffered at the tournament.

General manager Jeff Gorton and Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Chris Drury thought that it would be best for Andersson to continue his rehab in North American and assigned him to the Wolf Pack. Andersson now plays alongside fellow first-round pick of the Rangers Filip Chytil. Chytil also scored a power-play goal in today’s game, his eighth goal of the season for the Wolf Pack.

Andersson had a great World Junior Championship as he captained Team Sweden to the silver medal. Sweden lost the gold medal game to Team Canada and the loss came with controversy as Andersson, unhappy with second place, threw his medal into the stands after he received it follow the game. In tossing the medal, Andersson felt that second place wasn’t why he came to play the game.

Andersson and fellow teammate Chytil have been playing well for the resurging Hartford Wolf Pack. Rangers fans may get an opportunity to see both players play at Madison Square Garden towards the end of this season should the Rangers make a call-up after the trade deadline passes.

A graduate of St. John's University class of '91. I have been a fan of the New York Rangers since the days of Peter Puck. Founder of Ranger Proud, the Facebook page that covers all news, notes, pre /post-game stats, and player quotes. I can be reached at Nyrfc12@gmail.com