AHLers in the NHL

Craig, Kanko score in NHL debuts

Ryan Craig was one of six AHL grads to score their first NHL goals over the weekend.
Springfield Falcons captain Ryan Craig scored a goal in his National Hockey League debut on Saturday night during the Tampa Bay Lightning's 6-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings in Tampa.

The 23-year-old Craig, who led the Falcons with 27 goals a year ago, was one of six AHL players to make their NHL debuts over the weekend.

In 28 games with Springfield in 2005-06, Craig shares the team lead with 12 goals and has added 10 assists for 22 points.

Also in Tampa on Saturday, Darren Reid made his NHL debut for the Lightning. Reid, 22, picked up 22 points in 56 games as a rookie with the Falcons last year, and had four goals and six assists in 21 games for Springfield this season.

On Long Island on Saturday, Rob Collins made his NHL debut in the N.Y. Islanders' 5-4 win over Colorado. Collins, who leads Bridgeport in scoring with 26 points this year, is in his fourth professional season out of Ferris State University.

On Friday, Petr Kanko scored a goal in his NHL debut, helping Los Angeles to a 4-3 shootout victory in Anaheim. And Jason Bacashihua made his NHL debut in a relief appearance -- and recorded an assist -- for St. Louis during a 5-1 loss to Chicago. Bacashihua stopped 14 of 16 shots in the game.

Michel Ouellet netted his first two NHL goals over the weekend for Pittsburgh, scoring in back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday. In Saturday's action, Jeff Hamilton (N.Y. Islanders), Aleksander Suglobov (New Jersey) and Chad LaRose (Carolina) scored the first goals of their NHL careers as well.

On Sunday, Eric Fehr made his NHL debut for Washington in a home game against Florida. Fehr leads the Hershey Bears in scoring with 28 points this season.