Ranking the best rookie performances from Thursday night

Much like the rest of professional North American sports, hockey is quickly becoming a "young man's game." And, after the outstanding performances from a crop of rookies Thursday night, that growing trend is becoming more evident with each passing game.

Due to the volume of stellar showings - three players got their first career NHL goals - we thought it was fitting to put together a list, ranking all of the solo standouts.

Here's Thursday's best rookie performances:

No. 7 - Kailer Yamamoto, Edmonton Oilers

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Yamamoto may still be waiting for his first NHL goal, but that isn't stopping him from fitting right in playing on Connor McDavid's wing. The diminutive rook has impressed so far and he continued that progression Thursday night.

While his assist on Patrick Maroon's goal was nice, it was Yamamoto's skating and patience with the puck that impressed the most.

The Oilers have been looking for someone to slot in on McDavid's line, and by the looks of it, Yamamoto is fitting the bill quite nicely. The rookie has three points in five games to start his career.

No. 6 - Matthew Barzal, New York Islanders

Potentially the most underrated rookie on this list, Barzal had one of the nicer goals of the night with this beauty play against the Ottawa Senators.

Good luck catching @Barzal_97. The kid cranked it up a notch for his first NHL goal. #NHLFirsts pic.twitter.com/TKfwLHVuya

- NHL (@NHL) October 20, 2017

Barzal, 20, also threw three shots on net and logged a respectable 18:03 of ice time, sixth-most among Islanders forwards.

The goal was Barzal's first of his career, but if he keeps rushing the puck like that, expect a lot more from the former first-round draft pick.

No. 5 - Mikhail Sergachev, Tampa Bay Lightning

Apparently, scoring his first career NHL goal wasn't enough for Sergachev on this night, as the 19-year-old rearguard provided all the offense Tampa Bay would need by netting two goals.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Sergachev was acquired in the offseason for Jonathan Drouin in a much-talked about trade with the Montreal Canadiens, which, as of now, has worked out very well in the Lightning's favor - in eight games so far this season, Sergachev has two goals and four assists.

Regardless, the young Russian's offensive performance Thursday night was outstanding, earning him the fifth spot on this list.

No. 4 - Alex Kerfoot, Colorado Avalanche

Another rookie forward having a huge night was Kerfoot, as the Avalanche pivot had a three-point game, including two goals.

Kerfoot was arguably Colorado's best player Thursday, continuing his hot start to the campaign. The 23-year-old Vancouver native now has five points in eight games.

No. 3 - Clayton Keller, Arizona Coyotes

Keller finished with two goals and an assist while registering the third-most ice time among Coyotes forwards at 20:02, but it was the nasty finish on his first tally that should have fans in Arizona salivating over the potential of their stud freshman.

Check it out:

Keller now has five goals and two assists to his credit, and is emerging as an early Calder Trophy favorite.

No. 2 - Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils

They may not have been pretty, but a two-goal night is still something to be proud of. Especially if you're a teenager and they were the first two tallies of your career.

Such was the case for Hischier, as he scored two goals and added an assist in the winning effort for New Jersey.

Nico is on the board with NHL goal No. 1.

No. 2 came less than two minutes later. pic.twitter.com/sfCiveNWgY

- NHL (@NHL) October 20, 2017

Hischier and the first-place Devils have been one of the better stories to start the year, as the rookie phenom now has seven points in as many games.

No. 1 - Anders Bjork, Boston Bruins

Bjork scored twice, added an assist, and finished as the game's second star while only logging 12:29 of ice time - not too shabby for a guy who was drafted 146th overall by the Bruins in 2014.

Here's a look at his second goal of the night:

Bjork x2 pic.twitter.com/0XQNybue0G

- steph (@myregularface) October 19, 2017

Boston may have been dealt a raw hand to start the year, as the team is dealing with injuries to multiple key players, but if depth guys like Bjork can continue to produce, the Bruins could be in the mix for one of the final two Eastern Conference playoff spots when April rolls around.

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