The hype around the Swedish shooting star was big even before the drop in the Honda Center, Anaheim.
“Leo’s hunt starts tonight” the club wrote on social media along with a longer film of Carlsson in match clothes.
The 18-year-old center, who was selected number two in this summer’s NHL draft, missed the first two league games of the season due to an injury.
Now he formed the first chain with Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry. And when the chance came, he took it.
The parents: “We love you”
The goal came at the beginning of the final period, a two-on-one situation for Anaheim where Troy Terry did the preparatory work and then passed Leo Carlsson who splashed the puck into the roof of the net to make it 2-2.
After the goal, the camera zoomed in on Carlsson’s parents Kenneth and Camilla in the stands, who smiled widely and applauded.
– We are so incredibly proud of you, we love you, they greeted afterwards via the club’s social media.
Dallas won the game
The goal makes Leo Carlsson the second youngest to score his debut goal for the Anaheim Ducks, first on the list is Mason McTavish.
– Sometimes you just have to pinch yourself in the arm. Is it true? Is it really for real?, said his mother Camilla Carlsson before the match to The Athletic.
Despite the euphoria, it was Dallas who won the match itself 3-2.
Watch the debut goal in the player above!