"I was obviously very happy, very relieved to get that first one," Strome said. "I think the first one is the hardest to get. Hopefully I'll get a couple more. It was a great play by Fischer to make a drop pass and I was able to walk it down and it felt good."
Strome scored his first NHL goal in his 12th NHL game. He played seven last season, then two at the start of this season. Saturday's game was his third since being recalled from the American Hockey League on Sunday. Before being recalled, Strome notched eight goals and 18 assists in just 15 games with Tucson of the AHL.
"I think it helps," he said of his AHL success. "You're kind of in hockey mode and your midseason form. It feels good to be out there and having fun with the guys ... Since I got called up, I've felt a lot more comfortable ... The first game back against Edmonton (on Tuesday) was a little bit of an adjustment period, but I think two nights ago against Calgary and tonight I felt very comfortable. I feel like my game's coming around and hopefully I can keep going tomorrow."
Head Coach Rick Tocchet, who played Strome at center for the first time since he came back to the NHL, liked Strome's all-around game vs. New Jersey.
"He was really good down low," Tocchet said. "I thought he was in good position. If he's in good position, the other parts of the game will come. I told him, 'You got rewarded because you played good defense.'"
