Johnny Gaudreau had a penalty, two assists and played a role in his new team forcing his old team to stoppage time.
But his first game back was in Calgary after leaving to sign with Columbus blue jacket in free agency ended with Gaudreau facing pressure, losing his balance after a collision and watching Dillon Dube score once win the game in fire‘ Overtime victory 4-3 Monday at Scotiabank Saddledome.
“Coming back for the first time (brings) a lot of emotions,” Gaudreau told reporters after the game. “There was a bit of anxiety before the game started but I’m excited to be back.”
Gaudreau’s night can be viewed in one of two ways: his overall performance and the spectacle surrounding his return.
Calgary took a 2-0 lead when Columbus finally equalized midway through the second half. Gaudreau, who scored the team’s first goal with a score of 22:54 in ice time, scored the first with a cross to the Kirill Marchenko 10:56 left.
Blue Jackets equalized 2-2 less than a minute after Gaudreau set up another cross that led to Patrick Laine score on the stopwatch once when 10:08 is left.
Gaudreau was also on the tape scoring the Jackets’ match-winning goal less than five minutes into the third half.
Gaudreau played the last shift of the regulation and in the last shift of overtime before his second shift ended with him colliding with Noah Hanifinwho forced the revenue to lead to Andrew Mangiapane Dube’s game winner set.
Coming back after two goals just to be at the center of the events leading up to the winning goal was just part of what made Gaudreau’s first game back to Calgary since leaving the enchanting Flames.
Gaudreau and the Blue Jackets were booed as they lowered the ice before the national anthem. He started the game on a line with Laine and Jack Roslovic before he gets booed at first touch.
His second shift is marked by a symphony of “JOHN-NY! JOHN-NY! JOHN-NY!,” while his follow-up shows what makes him one of the bridges. The most dangerous player in the league. The fire was in the area of the Blue Jackets when a wrong pass from MacKenzie Weegar was chosen by Gaudreau, who was then trapped by Chris Tanev before being awarded a penalty.
The boos continued to fill the Saddledome as Gaudreau collected the ball and closed in on the net only to have his shot miss the post. Dan Vladar‘s glove with 14:46 left in the first stage. Gaudreau capitalized on another Flames mistake on his fourth shift as he gained control of the ball, darting down the left wing and delivering a slap that sent Vladar’s mask into the crowd.
The booing continued at the start of his tribute video, but Gaudreau received a standing ovation before the camera cut him off on the video board. Gaudreau, who was on the bench, got up and waved to them to thank the fans.
Then they went back to booing him for the rest of the evening.
Gaudreau said: “For the most part, I feel very happy to see people standing up and clapping and cheering for me. “And five seconds later, they started booing again. That’s what I expected when I got here. It’s a great fanbase and they’re raving fans. I love that. That’s it. a special night for me.”
Dube said: “I think it shows how good a player he is and how important he is to this organization, because you’re not going to get that kind of reaction if you’re not as important as you are. so.”
Gaudreau’s return to Calgary delivers the expected reactions from the player’s first game as he returns to his old home along with some unique items. At the morning skating session, some of the Blue Jackets mocked Gaudreau, who laughed and smiled as he touched the ball as a way of “preparing him” for the game.
Then, of course, there were signs. A sign reads “I’m still your #1 fan Johnny Gaudreau,” followed by an offer to trade Gaudreau’s cane for some Skittles. Another sign reads, “We drove 3 HRS just to boo Gaudreau.”
There were also fans who got creative with their Gaudreau sweaters, with one of them having a temporary “BOODREAU” nameplate.
“For the most part, I feel very happy to see people standing up and clapping and cheering for me. And five seconds later, they start booing again. That’s what I expected when I came here. It was a group of people. great fans and they’re crazy fans. I love it. It’s a special night for me.”
Johnny Gaudreau
“We knew it was going to be such an environment. Johnny had an excellent game,” said Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen.
Before becoming the object of their scorn, Gaudreau worked to become one of the series’ favorite faces. He was the 4th round pick in 2011 who was worried about becoming a smaller player. He shook off those worries by becoming one of the best players in the college game, winning the Hobey Baker Award during his junior season at Boston University.
He left BC after three seasons and scored 20 goals along with 64 points in his first full season, which earned him the NHL All-Star honor and entry to the All-Stars Rookie Team. That will be the start of the six All-Star appearances he will make with the Flames.
A three-time 30-goal scorer, Gaudreau’s final season in Calgary became the strongest season of his career. He ended his career with the highest career goals (40), assists (75) and points (115), while also scoring goals in nine matches. It sets the stage for Gaudreau, a pending unrestricted free agent, to have one of the more prominent stories of the season.
The Flames are ready for life without the restricted free-winger pending Matthew Tkachukwho told them he wouldn’t sign a long-term extension, which resulted in him being transferred Florida newspaper. The expectation surrounding Gaudreau’s free agent story is that it could potentially end with him signing to somewhere close to his hometown of Carneys Point Township, New Jersey, beyond. Delaware River from Philadelphia.
Instead of signing with limit Philadelphia flyer or New Jersey DevilGaudreau unexpectedly decided to sign a 7-year contract with Blue Jackets with an average annual value of $9.75 million.
Life without Gaudreau and Tkachuk has raised questions about how the Flames will score. Finding consistent offensive production remains a challenge for a team that sits at the bottom of the Western Conference two points above the defending Stanley Cup champions. Colorado avalanchewho has three games in hand.
As for the Blue Jackets, their first season with Gaudreau didn’t go as planned. Key players such as All-Star striker Jakub Voracek and two-time All-Star champion defender Zach Werenski have suffered long-term injuries. Werenski is on long-term injury reserve while Voracek is one of IR’s five Blue Jackets.
Even with injury time, Blue Jackets still finished last in the Eastern Conference and tied with Anaheim Duck for the fewest points in the NHL. But it also means they are among the most notable candidates that could line up to win the draft lottery and could be selected as the expected No. 1 candidate Connor Bedard. .
Gaudreau said: “I joined the army in 2011. I have been a part of this organization for 11, 12 years. “They have supported me endlessly; have given endless support to our team and I want to thank them all for being such great fans and welcoming me in their city and being so kind. with me. Me and my family are really good.”
