Maxime Lagace Picks Up First NHL Win With Family In Attendance

He wishes it had maybe come a bit sooner. Although for goalie Maxime Lagace, the circumstances surrounding Saturday's win - the first of his NHL career - couldn't have been any sweeter.
Since assuming his role as the Golden Knights' starter du jour when Oscar Dansk became the third Vegas goalie to head to the IR last week, Lagace had taken three straight losses. Until Saturday, when he stopped 24 of 28 shots to pick up the "W" in Vegas' 5-4 win over the Ottawa Senators.
Growing up only about two hours east in Longueuil, Quebec - a suburb of Montreal - 13 members of Lagace's family were able to be in attendance to see his first NHL win.
For many of them, it was their first chance to see him play in the NHL.
Which although the 24-year-old debuted in the NHL only last Monday, it was still a special moment for the family.

"For sure. I'm glad they were part of it. I had a couple people there. Even my billet family from PEI was there. To have them therefor my first win was great.
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"I knew where they were sitting. Probably looked out of the corner of my eyes. I got to see them. I went out and talked. Big hugs. It was nice.
"I gave the game puck to my father."
For Lagace, it won't be much longer until he sees his family a bit more.

Following Monday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Golden Knights will play right next to Lagace's hometown, in Montreal. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Lagace will draw the starts in both remaining games on this road trip.
Although he now has an NHL win under his belt, these upcoming two games couldn't be more crucial to his career. With every day that passes bringing us closer to when one of the Golden Knights' other three goalies - Dansk, Marc-Andre Fleury or Malcolm Subban - would return, Lagace's chances to show his stuff at the NHL level may be dwindling.
Before he would be returned to the AHL's Chicago Wolves when the Golden Knights' goalies are healthy, Lagace has a unique opportunity to show his ability to be a bona fide goalie.

That he does this while his team swings through the towns closest to where he grew up makes it all the more special.
"My family, they're great. They understand the position I'm in. They respect that I don't have all the time in the day to actually talk, or see them.
"It's pretty cool. I'm super excited for the two games coming up. Huge markets. It's exciting. But it's the same things. In warmups, I'll look around and enjoy the moment. Then it'll be game time.
"I'm really excited for Toronto and Montreal."