Jake Livanavage plays big role in NHL debut for Pittsburgh

Apr. 15—GRAND FORKS — The Pittsburgh Penguins did not ease Jake Livanavage into his first NHL game.

The former UND defenseman took the ice first in warmups and did the traditional rookie lap, skating by himself for 30 seconds at Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

Then, the Penguins treated him like anything but a rookie.

Livanavage played 25 minutes, 14 seconds — more than any other player on the ice — during Pittsburgh's 7-5 loss to the St. Louis Blues.

Livanavage also ran Pittsburgh's first power-play unit and was on the ice when Pittsburgh pulled the goaltender at the end of the game to try to get the tying goal.

"It's obviously what you dream of, growing up as a kid," Livanavage said. "To kind of have it out of the way and done with, it's unbelievable. I can't thank the guys in the locker room enough and the Pittsburgh organization as well. It was awesome."

It was Pittsburgh's last regular-season game. The Penguins will now move into the playoffs, but because Livanavage was signed as an undrafted free agent after the NHL's trading deadline, he is not eligible to play in the playoffs.

Penguins coach Dan Muse praised Livanavage after the game.

"He played well," Muse said. "You can see the skating, confident with the puck. Early on in the game, too, I think first shift, good stick detail, disrupts a play. Then, a couple of shifts later, a couple of good plays on breakouts, some little subtle things. I thought you saw that confidence build. He did a good job getting into the game."

Livanavage played three seasons at UND, earning All-American honors as a sophomore and junior.

He led the Fighting Hawks to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's Penrose Cup and to the NCAA Frozen Four this season. UND's year ended with a 2-1 loss to Wisconsin in the Frozen Four semifinals last Thursday.

Livanavage signed his NHL deal in the hours following the game.

"It's never an easy thing for a guy playing his first NHL game," Muse said. "No real team practice. You're jumping right into the fire. I thought he found his way into the game really well."

Livanavage was asked what he could take from his NHL debut.

"Everything that comes with the experience," Livanavage said. "Getting that game under my belt, just knowing the style of play, the pace that it's played at. Just move forward with it, take it with me in the summer."

Livanavage became the 114th former UND player to play in an NHL game and the third to make his debut this spring.

Forward Sacha Boisvert debuted with the Chicago Blackhawks last month, while defenseman Abram Wiebe debuted with the Calgary Flames on Saturday. Wiebe has now played three NHL games.

Livanavage is the fifth undrafted UND player to make an NHL debut in the last decade, joining Matt Kiersted, Cole Smith, Troy Stecher and Drake Caggiula.

His parents, Amy and Jim, and brother, Johnny Walker, attended the game in St. Louis.

"They obviously mean the world to me," Livanavage said. "I wouldn't be here without them. It's just super incredible and special to share this moment with them."