A Chat With Dylan Ferguson

VANCOUVER - His team had just been spanked 8-2 and he'd let in one goal on two shots but if Dylan Ferguson has ever been more giddy we'd like to see the footage.

The 19-year-old goalie recalled to the Vegas Golden Knights on an emergency basis from the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL played 9:14 seconds on Tuesday night in relief of Max Lagace. Ferguson became the fifth goalie (Marc-Andre Fleury, Malcolm Subban, Oscar Dansk, Lagace and Ferguson) put in action for the Golden Knights this season.
Lagace was back on the ice on Wednesday for practice and Subban took part in his first skate with the team in close to a month.

"I'm getting close," said Subban, following the practice at Rogers Arena in downtown Vancouver.
Here's a little Q and A with Ferguson.
What was playing in your first NHL game like:
"I'm really at a loss of words right now. Like you said, I've been practicing really hard all week and working with (goalie coach David Prior) Dave. He came in after and he said that first save I made perfectly. That's good to hear because I've really been focusing on my positioning and how I'm reading plays. It's tough to get scored on, but first NHL goal against, it happens to everyone. It's a really great experience for me and it's awesome."
On who told him he was going in to the game:
"The trainer came over and told me to get a little warm. One of the coaches, I honestly can't remember who it was right now, he just kind of said 'you're going in next whistle.' So, I just kind of beared down as much as I could and just went in and played."

Was it the moment of a lifetime?
"Absolutely. It's every kids dream to be in that net as a goaltender. It's really surreal. I'm at a loss of words about it."
Connor McDavid tapped him on the pads after a save and whispered something to him on the ice. What was said?
"I was kind of star struck at the time, but I think he said something like 'good job' and gave me a tap on the pads or something about the hat trick that he didn't get. That was a pretty cool thing to have happen."
On if he knew he might be put in:
"Yeah, I expect that every game really. I've got to prepare like I'm going to play every game. That's just facts. I'm the second guy on the bench right now so I always have to be ready to go in. I saw when he got a little tweaked and I guess the coach thought it would be best to let me get some playing time. I'm grateful for the opportunity."
On how he found out he was getting called up:
"I was actually having all-you-can-eat wings at Boston Pizza, but I didn't get to eat them. They were about five minutes away from getting to my table when I got the call. I just pretty much ran out. I paid for the guys dinner and was on a flight two hours later. I was just watching the game at Boston Pizza and next thing you know I was getting a call from Vegas saying I was going to New York."
Ferguson was born in Vancouver and raised just down the road in Lantzville, B.C.. He's expecting some family and friends at Thursday's game between Vegas and the Canucks.
"I don't know how many will make it. I hope I don't have to pay for all of the tickets. Hopefully a few can make it down."
On what he can take from this:
"Now I know what the NHL feels like. It's a great experience that not too many kids in my league have. It's just another thing I'm grateful for; this whole thing. It's pretty crazy even those nine minutes. It wasn't the position that I wanted to go into in a game like that, but I took it as nothing-nothing and just played my game."
On if he has received his first NHL pay check:
"Not yet. I'm a big believer in saving money and this doesn't happen too often so I don't want to go on a spending spree. I don't want to buy everyone's tickets. It's probably a pretty expensive deal here."
A record not to break: So, Vegas is now just two goalies away from tying an NHL record which no team wants to match. From the NHL's department of statistics, the record for most goaltenders to make an appearance by one team in any single season is seven (three times).
Kings (2007-08):Dan Cloutier, Daniel Taylor, Erik Ersberg, Jason LaBarbera, Jean-Sebastien Aubin, Jonathan Bernier and Jonathan Quick