On the same night the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals met at the Capital One Arena, there were six other games across the league.
That's a total of 252 skaters that played NHL hockey Tuesday night.
None of them had less than Trey Fix-Wolansky's five minutes, 23 seconds of ice time.
And none of them had a more memorable night.
Fix-Wolansky scored at the 2:40 mark of the third period in his NHL debut to give the Blue Jackets a 4-3 lead en route to a 5-4 victory over the Washington Capitals. He had played less than three total minutes in the first two periods before joining Max Domi and Jack Roslovic on a rush, with the latter leaving a drop pass for Fix-Wolansky to fire at Washington goalie Pheonix Copley. It was a shot that had only an 8.7% chance of going in the net per MoneyPuck, but it trickled past Copley and into the back of the net.
"Take it in!"
— Bally Sports Columbus (@BallySportsCBUS) February 9, 2022
Trey Fix-Wolansky scores a goal in his NHL debut to give the @BlueJacketsNHL the 4-3 lead! pic.twitter.com/fzImei7oMN
The goal — which chased Copley from the game — came in front of Fix-Wolansky's parents, Cheryn and Dallas, who arrived in the Nation's Capital just a few hours earlier. Not only were they able to catch the goal in person, but the cameras were able to catch them in the moments after seeing their son fulfill a lifelong dream.
Proud parents.
— Bally Sports Columbus (@BallySportsCBUS) February 9, 2022
Trey Fix-Wolansky's mom and dad react after his NHL debut goal. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/y4Zo4YYpbG
"They sacrificed so much for me growing up," said Fix-Wolansky. "I kind of owe it to my parents for being here right now."
Fix-Wolansky, 22, scored nine goals and added eight assists while with the AHL's Cleveland Monsters this season. The seventh-round draft pick from the 2018 NHL draft played in 22 games with the Monsters this season after coming back from a torn ACL in March of 2021.
What the future holds for Fix-Wolansky is uncertain, as his debut came as a result of mounting injuries for the Blue Jackets and the addition of Emil Bemstrom to the COVID-19 list. But the ability to put the puck in the net has always been there for the Edmonton, Alberta native, and it will be an intriguing storyline to see if he gets increased ice time Thursday in Buffalo and Saturday in Montreal.
If he does — and if he continues to show the scoring touch he's had at every other level — Fix-Wolansky's time in Cleveland may have come to an abrupt end.
