Gardner, a 25-year-old forward, scored at the 9:02 mark of the first period against the Nashville Predators, taking a touch pass off the rear boards from Esa Lindell and beating Pekka Rinne with a shot five-hole after just getting enough of the puck on a fanned shot. Tanner Kero drew the second assist.
What better way to start the night than with Rhett Gardner's First NHL Goal?! 🙌@DallasStars | #GoStars pic.twitter.com/9UQPQRFKdr
— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) March 22, 2021
Gardner has been on the Stars’ taxi squad much of the season but had suited up for Dallas in five of their last six games. He picked up the first assist of his NHL career on Mar. 14 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
A former standout with the University of North Dakota, Gardner was drafted in the fourth round, 116th overall by the Stars in the 2016 NHL Draft and made his NHL debut on Nov. 14, 2019 against the Vancouver Canucks.
