Taylor Hall is back.
OK, so it happened in a preseason game, but the New Jersey Devils star's goal in the first period against the New York Rangers on Friday was his first NHL tally in nearly nine months.
Hall, 27, suited up for the first time since Dec. 23, when he suffered a knee injury that would keep him out for the remainder of the 2018-19 season. Two days prior, Hall posted two goals and two assists against the Ottawa Senators for the final four points of his abbreviated campaign.
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Skating in his first game since the injury, Hall quickly showed why he's one of the more fearsome forwards in the game. He ripped a feed from No. 1 overall draft pick Jack Hughes past Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist just after the midway mark of the opening frame.
Hall and Hughes had also hooked up on the game's first goal. Hall was credited with an assist on the youngster's breakaway marker in the opening minute of play.