Hillen Makes His Mark

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)


CC's Hillen impresses in Islanders debut
By GREG LOGAN
SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

UNIONDALE, N.Y. - There are easier ways to make your NHL debut than parachuting into the thick of the Islanders-Rangers rivalry, but that's what Colorado College defenseman Jack Hillen did Thursday at Nassau Coliseum. He went from playing Michigan State in the NCAA West Regional a week ago to playing defense for the Islanders against such Rangers stars as Jaromir Jagr and Chris Drury.

When he was fielding free-agent offers from NHL clubs, Hillen was anxious to test himself at the top level, and the Islanders were happy to provide it.

"If this was one way to try to get me to come here, it worked," Hillen said.

"I didn't really know until Sunday that this was a possibility. It snuck up on me pretty quickly. I'm a little nervous, but it's more excitement. I'll try not to make it that big of a deal, just enjoy it. Focus on the game, but also take in a little bit of the surroundings because this only happens once, playing your first NHL game."

With 17:51 left in the first period, Hillen took the ice with Radek Martinek in what ranked as the Islanders' top pairing against Drury's line. If he had jitters, it didn't show. Midway through the first period, Hillen made a deft cross-ice pass through traffic to spring forward Frans Nielsen open at the Rangers' blue line.

Hillen would log 20 shifts and 15:39 of ice time, and he wasn't on the ice for any of the Rangers' goals in their 3-0 win. He took his first penalty in a good cause stopping a dangerous rush by the Rangers' Ryan Callahan, and he added one shot, one hit and one takeaway. But it was his passing and poise that impressed Islanders captain Bill Guerin.

"Jack played as well as anybody I've ever seen in their first game, especially against your biggest rivals," Guerin said. "He just handled himself great."

Hillen's was one of many new faces in the Islanders' injury-depleted dressing room, but fellow Minnesota native Kyle Okposo, who made his NHL debut seven games earlier, was no stranger to him. They played against each other last season when Okposo was at the University of Minnesota. They're staying at a hotel adjacent to the Coliseum, and Okposo clued Hillen in on what to expect.

"He told me he was real nervous," Hillen said of Okposo's debut. "That's to be expected. If you weren't nervous, you'd be maybe not human. But the thing I keep thinking about is that a lot of players I've played against are doing well in the NHL. So, I know I can play up here. You just have to have confidence in your ability no matter where you're playing."

Those weren't empty words from Hillen. There was no hesitation in his passes or his decision-making. One of the Islanders' best power-play cycles came with him at the left point, controlling the flow and putting a shot on goal.

Asked if there was any sense of awe, Hillen answered firmly. "No, there was none. I'm not going to play scared out there."

NHL game No. 2 of his career is against the Rangers again tonight, but this time at Madison Square Garden, one of the loudest venues in the league. "I'm excited," Hillen said. "It's a historic building, and I'm looking forward to playing there. Plus, I would like to get a win in my first NHL experience. That's the most important thing."

Spoken like a pro.

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