Jerry D'Amigo hoping to make an impression on the Leafs

It took a bit longer than he expected, but Jerry D’Amigo   will certainly take it.

D’Amigo – a 6^th round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2009 – scored his first NHL goal on Saturday.

“You guys can’t see it but I’m just going crazy inside right now,” said D’Amigo, as the Leafs beat Chicago 7-3 on Saturday night.

It has been a long journey for D’Amigo who knows his time in the NHL could come to an end at any time.

Since helping the U.S. win gold at the 2010 World Junior hockey championship, D’Amigo hasn’t developed as quickly as the Leafs had hoped.

But with injuries to the likes of Tyler Bozak, David Bolland and Colton Orr, and with David Clarkson suspended, coach Randy Carlyle has turned to the 22 year-old D’Amigo who has an opportunity to make an impression on the Leafs management.

Playing on a line with Jay McClement and Nik Kulemin, the Binghamton, New York native found himself starting the game against the defending Stanley Cup champions.

His role : To help shutdown the Blackhawks top line of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa.

“I was kind of shocked,” said D’Amigo on Sunday afternoon. “I did a little ‘wow, are you sure about that.”’

Then when he lined up for the opening faceoff with Hossa the Leafs forward was awed by the entire scene.

“I was looking up at him and I wanted to say, ‘Hey, I watched you growing up.”’

“It was a little bit of a risk to put D’Amigo with McClement and Kulemin,” admitted Coach Randy Carlyle. “We tried to create a little bit more of a checking line. They did a heck of a job for us.”

At 5-foot-11, 203 pounds, D’Amigo knows in order to continue to have success in the NHL he needs to continue to impress in a shut-down role.

“You always watch when you are in the minors,” said D’Amigo, who has 5 goals and 8 assists in 13 games with the Marlies. “You definitely get a little mad because you want to help up there. But at the same time you have to wait.  I got my shot.”

And so far he is taking advantage of it.

When he arrived at the Air Canada Centre last Thursday for his first NHL game against Dallas, couldn’t get in to the Maple Leafs dressing room. That video of him waiting outside for someone to let him in, was shown all across Canada during the game broadcast.

He has an access card now.

“You guys can’t make fun of me anymore.”

D’Amigo hopes he will need that card the rest of the season.