What happened: Finley tallied in the second period against the Laval Rocket on Friday when his pass intended for Matthew Highmore on a 3-on-2 rush deflected off a defender and into the net. The strike followed a rebound goal from Matt Luff that helped the Hamilton Hammers erase an early two-goal deficit before Laval pulled away for a 4-2 win.

Why it matters: Selected by the New York Islanders in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Finley was held out of contact throughout fall camp after an injury cut short the end of his collegiate season. Getting onto the scoresheet early in his minor-league tenure keeps the projected top-nine forward on track in his recovery and professional transition.

What to watch: While the parent club practices Saturday ahead of a week-long road trip, Finley will look to build on his two-point start as his workload increases with Hamilton.