'I thank him a lot' | Kulich celebrates as Rousek scores in NHL debut

Jiri Kulich had not met Lukas Rousek prior to being drafted by the Sabres this past summer. The two Czech forwards got to know each other first at development camp in July, then as teammates this season with the Rochester Americans.
Kulich initially struggled as he transitioned to Rochester - his first season in a new league and a new country. It was Rousek who helped him settle in, paving the way for the production that now has Kulich among the AHL's goal scoring leaders at just 18 years old.
"He helped me mentally," Kulich said.

When Kulich received word Monday afternoon that Rousek would make his NHL debut later that night against the Montreal Canadiens, he didn't hesitate. Kulich made the hour-plus drive down the I-90 from Rochester to Buffalo and was in the KeyBank Center for puck drop.
Rousek scored on his very first shift and added an assist in the Sabres' 4-3 shootout loss. He became the first Sabres player to have a goal and an assist in his NHL debut since Maxim Afinogenov in 1999.
"First shift and first shot," Kulich said. "So amazing. I'm so happy for him."
Tweet from @BuffaloSabres: When your BFF scores his first @NHL goal😁Jiri Kulich is in the house to see Lukas Rousek in his debut! pic.twitter.com/65wy3RjFN4
Kulich scored 3:49 into the game, the fourth-fastest goal in an NHL debut in Sabres history, according to SportRadar. The three fastest goals belong to Danny Gare (18 seconds), Alexander Mogilny (20 seconds), and Denis Hamel (2:09).
It was a short wait for a player whose journey to this point has required patience. Rousek waited until the sixth round of the NHL Draft before he heard his name called by the Sabres in 2019. He waited two years after that before making the jump from Czechia to Rochester.
Rousek spent most of last season, his first in North America, rehabbing an offseason knee injury. He made his Amerks debut in March, played 19 games during the regular season, then was a standout performer with six points in 10 playoff games.
When Rousek arrived at the Prospects Challenge in the fall, Amerks coach Seth Appert touted him as a player the organization expected to push for the NHL. Sabres coach Don Granato complimented Rousek's situational awareness after he tallied an assist in a preseason win over Philadelphia.
"He's got a knack and a feel for the game combined with a competitiveness that just keeps him in it," Granato said in September.
Rousek parlayed his training camp into a breakout season with the Amerks. He ranks second on the team in both points (49) and assists (34) in 62 games. His coaches and teammates have come to know him as a skilled passer who plays with an edge.
"He's really skilled," said JJ Peterka, who played with Rousek in Rochester last season. "I would say, really smart player, fast player. … I wasn't really surprised that he scored."
Rousek displayed each of those qualities on the two goals he contributed to against the Canadiens. He helped maintain possession on the forecheck during the shift that led to his goal before peeling to the Montreal net, where he jostled for position with defenseman Justin Barron.
Rousek spun away from Barron just as a pass from Tyson Jost arrived off the end boards.

Rousek carried the puck over the blue line in the second period, quickly passed off to Victor Olofsson on his right, and drove hard to the net. In addition to earning the secondary assist, Rousek's presence in front helped clear room for Riley Stillman to drive down low and score his first goal with the Sabres.

It was Stillman who drove Rousek to the rink earlier in the day.
"Maybe that's the thing, we both scored driving to the rink together," Stillman said. "It would have been better to get a win, but I'm really proud of him and happy for him."
Stillman described an enthusiastic reaction on the Sabres bench after Rousek's goal. Kulich, meanwhile, celebrated from the stands.
"I'm so happy for him," Kulich said. "I thank him a lot."