PITTSBURGH — Twenty-four hours ago, Morgan Geekie was preparing for the Checkers’ Saturday night tilt against the Utica Comets in Charlotte.
One hour ago, Geekie’s dad, Craig, was handing him an NHL game puck in Pittsburgh. Justin Williams was screaming “There’s the star, talk to him!” in his general direction. Rod Brind’Amour gave him a fist bump of respect. The freakin’ governor of North Carolina was tweeting about him.
I asked for it. I got it. Big @Canes weekend. Four points. Freekie for Geekie.
— Roy Cooper (@RoyCooperNC) March 8, 2020
He’d been having another stellar year — including a recent hat trick — in Charlotte, with a 22-20—42 stat line, a minus-17 and first-line center duties, but this?
Two goals, one assist an essential screen later, and yeah, he led the Hurricanes to a crucial 6-2 win over Pittsburgh — in his NHL debut. No matter what happens next, he’s cemented himself as the second player in franchise history to score two goals in his NHL debut, and also as the second to post three points in his NHL debut.
Advertisement
“I was getting ready for the game, we had a game on Saturday against Utica in Charlotte,” Geekie said postgame. “Then I got called into the office and I honestly thought it was just for some video before the game. (Checkers head coach Ryan Warsofsky) Warsy told me I was going up, so it was kind of a whirlwind like that. Hopped on a flight at 8 p.m. and got here late last night and then just kind of came to the rink and the show happened, so.”
“The show” happened, all right.
It all started when Geekie got the Hurricanes on the board to tie the game in the first.
It was the exact ugliness the Canes used to win their last game — and exactly how they’ll need to win their next one.
Geekie: “It was a great pass by Gards, I was in the right spot at the right time and he made a great play to me, it hit my stick and it went in. So, you know, just kind of surreal like that.”
Brind’Amour: “He’s gritty. He’s got some grit to him. He knows how to play and he’s not afraid. I liked that he had the courage to make plays — he wasn’t just throwing the puck around. We already know he’s got a good release — he showed that on the one goal. He was an excellent contribution, obviously.”
Jordan Martinook, pregame: “I don’t want to say anything, but I have been a part of two first goals.”
Make it three.
Geekie: “We will chalk it up to that, for sure.”
You’ll remember that he isn’t the only person associated with the Hurricanes to score his first NHL goal on his first NHL shot — Brind’Amour did the same for the Blues in his 1990 Black Ace debut. Of course, Brind’Amour completely brushed off anything about that. He just laughed and turned attention back to Geekie.
“It’s a special moment, I was just really happy for him,” he said. “One of those memories that he’ll have forever, now. His family was here and they were all going crazy. That’s what it’s all about.”
Advertisement
“He came in kind of just like ‘play your game, keep it simple. Play hard, play fast,’ Geekie said of Brind’Amour. “That’s kind of his motto. I have a lot of respect for Rod and he’s a great coach and was a great player. If he tells you something, you’re going to do your best to try and imitate that.”
As special as that would’ve been in itself, it wouldn’t end there.
He notched his first NHL assist providing the Canes just what they needed again.
“It’s about trying to take in everything you can. The guys were great, everyone was on my side,” Geekie said. “Welcomed me in with open arms. I can’t thank the guys enough — and the coaching staff, kudos to them.”
A few minutes later, he won a faceoff and provided yet another screen for Jake Gardiner’s power play missile.
One more for the road?
Williams: “How bout him, right? I talked to him before the game and I said ‘Are you ready?’ and he said ‘Yeah.’ I said ‘Are you nervous?’ and he said ‘Maybe a little bit.’ And I was like ‘Perfect, just do your thing,’ and he certainly did it.”
No, his 100 percent scoring percentage isn’t sustainable, but his “thing” seems to be providing the grit the Hurricanes had been lacking since before this weekend.
His mom, dad, two brothers and girlfriend were waiting for him right when he got off the ice.
The whole Geekie family is here. Mr. Geekie with the game puck pic.twitter.com/1kKMAPliLD
— Sara Civ (@SaraCivian) March 8, 2020
If the late-notice hike from Charlotte to Pittsburgh wasn’t ideal, how about the hike from rural Manitoba, three hours west of Winnipeg?
“I called my parents and my girlfriend right away and said ‘Come on down, I got called up’ and they kind of made it work with their schedule,” Geekie said. “I’m glad they could be here tonight. It was awesome, I can’t thank them enough for fitting me into their schedule. It’s one of those things that will last forever.”
The John Deere hat Geekie wore in his intermission interview was actually a nod to them.
Doesn’t even have a hat yet 🤣 https://t.co/JziBINxRzI
— Sara Civ (@SaraCivian) March 8, 2020
“My mom’s dad owns a John Deere back home, where I’m from. My dad, and everyone in my family seems to work there at some point, I don’t know, it was just kind of kudos to that. We only carry John Deere stuff.”
We don’t know all that much about Geekie yet, but we’re learning fast. So far we know he’s dangerous, he’s gritty and he’s extremely Manitoba.
- Shayna Goldman was amused enough that the Corsi Kings themselves had a player named “Geekie,” that she graced us with her insight.
In all situations, Morgan Geekie attempted two shots — both of which ended up in the back of the net. Though he wasn’t a frequent shooter, both were quality chances according to Evolving-Hockey’s expected goal model which weighs factors including shot type, distance, angle, and whether it was taken on a rush or a second chance effort. Geekie’s .55 individual expected goals for of .55 ranked third of all skaters in the game, behind only Justin Williams (.65) and Patric Hornqvist of the Penguins (.8). His third-period goal had the second-highest xG value of all unblocked shots taken in the game, while his first-period goal ranked fourth overall. With him on the ice at even strength, the Hurricanes only generated 44.4 percent of the shots, but tilted the ice in terms of quality with 70.6 percent of the expected goal share. Game score blends traditional statistics, including goals (2), assists (1), and blocks (4), with advanced metrics for a single value. Geekie’s 4.30 in his NHL debut led all skaters.
(Photo of Morgan Geekie: Charles LeClaire / USA Today)