Three games into his NHL career, Adam Sykora doesn’t appear to have an “off” button.
The 21-year-old has been an absolute ray of sunshine in an otherwise dark and gloomy Rangers season from the moment he arrived in New York. A smile has yet to leave his face. He would burst if he didn’t express the abundance of gratitude that has filled him since earning this opportunity.
More than that, Sykora has left his fingerprints on each of his first three games in more ways than one.
“I don’t know if you guys can see it, but his energy is unmatched,” Conor Sheary said of Sykora. “He’s constantly up on his feet. He’s banging his stick. He’s just, I mean, with all these guys, but especially him, he just brings an energy that’s contagious. He’s fun to be around, fun to play with.”
Sykora scored his second goal in as many games in a 3-1 win over the Panthers on Sunday afternoon, tipping an Adam Fox shot past Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky for the 1-0 lead relatively early in the second period.
It came not long after Sykora engaged in his “first-ever fight in my life” with the Panthers’ Luke Kunin.
Based on Sykora’s goal celebration — jumping into the boards with an open-mouth smile — you would’ve thought it was his first. Though it’s possible the Slovak wing will never lose this level of enthusiasm.
“I feel [my] confidence might go up a little bit just playing more with the puck and just kind of settle things down,” Sykora said. “I’m never going to change anything on my game. Just still play simple. Have a good stick on the forecheck. Play through people. Be alive on the bench. Those kinds of things I want to bring to this team, and I’ll try my best.”
Continuing to skate on the right wing of Vincent Trocheck and Will Cuylle, Sykora has racked up two goals on seven shots while averaging 12:31 of ice time per game so far.
The production is welcome, but Sykora’s personality is one that has brought the Rangers lineup back to life.
“It’s hard not to like that guy,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “The energy that he exudes, I don’t think he’s ever had a bad day in his life. He’s a fun guy to be around, but his work ethic, his attitude, the energy he brings is contagious. He’s an easy guy to root for, I can tell you that.”
Noah Laba returned to the Rangers lineup for the first time since March 18, when the rookie was sidelined with a lower-body injury for five straight games.
While centering the fourth line between Jonny Brodzinski and Jaroslav Chmelar, Laba assisted on Sykora’s goal in his 66th game of the season.
“I thought he was good,” Sullivan said. “The biggest thing that I think he adds to our lineup is size and speed. He’s pretty good in the faceoff circle. He can kill penalties, but he can skate. His north-south game is good. We played him today with [Chmelar] and Jonny Brodzinski. I thought that line was excellent all night long.”
Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced in his 23rd win of the season Sunday afternoon against the Panthers.
Juuso Parssinen was returned to Hartford on Saturday. The Finnish center was a healthy scratch in seven of the past eight games.
