He'd grabbed the puck in the slot and passed up the shot.
But after weaving around the net and finding himself alone on the side boards, Nic Petan made his move: straight for the net and a job with the Winnipeg Jets.
Not all rookies are created equal. Petan is smaller than most, more skilled than many.
But after providing one of the game-changing moments in Tuesday pre-season outing against Ottawa – his drive to the net drew a penalty that produced the power-play goal with some five minutes to go as the Jets came back from a 3-0 deficit to win – he's so close to making the team he can taste it.