How did it feel to get your first NHL goal?
It's been a long time coming, that's for sure. It was a great feeling, as you'd expect. Being that it came 18 games in, I was starting to doubt myself a little bit. It Felt really good to get it because it was like I was getting a huge piano off my back. It made it a little more special because it was the game winner (against Tampa Bay) and it played a big part in the team's effort that night.

How has your first NHL season gone so far?
I expected it to be tough. My dad had gone through it and warned me about the ups and downs that a young guy just starting out in the league would experience. That's pretty much what it's been like at this point in the season.
It's kind of weird because the team's play has been a lot like that. We had a pretty good stretch, then we hit a wall for awhile. I dn't worry about my personal stats. I'm more concerned with how our team is doing and to get things going again in a winning way. I'll chip in where I have need and do whatever my coaches and teammates ask of me.

Besides the size and speed of NHL players, what's been the biggest adjustment you've had to make from major junior hockey?
The pace of the game is much different. Mentally, you have to be much more alert to what's going on. The time you have to make a play is much sorter. Shifts are quicker and you can't ever coast. You do that, most likely you won't be playing.
There are obvious changes like the goaltending being a lot beter. No matter the ice time you get, you don't get as many chances to score. Teams play a tighter defensive games.
Then there's the schedule. You have a lot more games and the traveling is more expensive than busing around Ontario. The grind is tougher. You have to really watch your diet and be on your toes about your fitness because it's a long haul.

Are there any particular players on the team that have really helped you out?
Everyone has been very supportive. The day I came here, I felt very welcomed. It certainly made the transaction a smooth one. There's not one guy who hasn't gone out of his way to make me feel at home and comfortable to be a part of the Islanders. Nobody has put me down in any way, even when I was struggling early on.
I'm still a teenager (19), so I was a little bit worried about fitting in. There's more of a veteran core here this season, but it's a real treat for me to watch them and for them to accept me.
You have a guy like Claude Lapointe who works his tail off every night and you can't help but want to play with that type of determination. There's Brad Isbister and Mariusz Czerkawskki who are super-talented and want to do everything that can to make this a winning team. But it's hard to just single a couple of guys out because each and every one of them has helped me in their own way.

When you found out you made the team, what did your father (former NHLer Nelson Pyatt) say to you?
He didn't really have a big speech prepared, honestly. The biggest thing he told me from his perspective was to enjoy playing at this level and to never take any day up here for granted. There are going to be days that you may not see a lot of ice, but to keep working hard and preform.
Everyday I wear the uniform of an NHL team is a privileged one. Being a young guy and a rookie, he told me that it was going to be a tough road. I've experienced both ends of that.

Talk about the 10-game rookie rule earlier in the season. Did the questions about possibly returning to junior hockey bother you?
I can't say that they weren't in the back of my mind. Even when I was down a little bit, the guys still had confidence in me that I can contribute here. Hearing management and the coaching staff say they believe I can play here was a confidence boost.
Going back to getting that first goal, that was also a part of it. When you come in from being producative in junior to not scoring as many goals as you ar eused to, it's an adjustment. I guess a lot of it goes back to what my dad said to me. You have your share of highs and lows to deal with.

How did you feel having your parents in the stands to see the home opener vs. Calgary with you wearing an Islander jersey?
It was a special one. They actually saw our game up in Toronto against the Leafs before and then flew to Long Island to watch us play the Flames. They're two of the main reasons why I'm here today, so for them to watch two of my earliest games in the NHL was great. My mom has always been very supportive of me and my dad was always there to help me out.

What are your hopes for the rest of this season from a team snd personal perspective?
Getting on a winnign roll is a good start. It felt really good to be in first place at that one point. I know we're in a tough division, but we have the talent here to be in the thick of things late into the season and make a run for the playoffs. I know management believes in us and the guys in the room have confidence as well.