"If former Sabres captain Chris Drury and Vinny Prospal were healthy, Derek Stepan almost certainly would have been in the minor leagues Saturday night. Given an opening to crack the roster, the 20-year-old center took advantage with a sensational debut for the New York Rangers that ruined Buffalo's 40th anniversary home opener. "You dream of playing an NHL game but you don't dream about a game like this," the former University of Wisconsin star said after posting a historic hat trick in the Rangers' 6-3 win over the Sabres. "To go out and play like that, the hockey gods were definitely looking down on me." Stepan became just the fourth player in NHL history -- and the first Ranger in the franchise's 85 seasons -- to have three goals in the first game of his career. The others were Dallas' Fabiann Brunstrom in 2008, Quebec's Real Cloutier in 1979 and Montreal's Alex Smart in 1943. "It's special," Stepan said. "For me, I was just trying to get my feet wet in my first NHL game. It was a fun process. Nervewracking too for a little bit but I settled in and played pretty well."" http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabres-nhl/article215998.ece
