Johnny Gaudreau had a penalty and two assists, and he 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 observing Dillon Dube score once win in fire‘ Overtime victory 4-3 Monday at Scotiabank Saddledome.
“First time back [brought] a lot of emotions,” Gaudreau told reporters after the game. “A bit nervous before the game started but I’m happy to be back.”
Gaudreau’s evening can be judged by his overall performance and the landscape 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.
The Blue Jackets equalized at 2 less than a minute later with Gaudreau setting up another cross that led to Patrick Laine score on the stopwatch once when 10:08 is left.
Gaudreau also went on to score the winner for the Jackets 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 next shift shows what makes him one of the most dangerous players 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 flank and delivering a slap that sent Vladar’s mask flying off and 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 was 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 professional season, which earned him the NHL All-Star honor and into the all-round Rookie of the Year. This is the first of six All-Star appearances he has made with the Flames.
A three-time 30-goal scorer, Gaudreau’s final season in Calgary was the strongest of his career. He ended his career with the highest records of his career in terms of goals (40), assists (75) and points (115), while also scoring 9 goals in the match. fight. It set the stage for Gaudreau’s unrestricted free agency to become 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 Newspapers. 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 defender Zach Werenski, suffered long-term injuries. Werenski is on the long-term injured reserve, while Voracek is one of the IR’s five Blue Jackets.
Even with overtime, Blue Jackets 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 contenders for the draft lottery and are predicted to be No. 1 pick Connor Bedard.
Gaudreau said: “I joined the army in 2011. I have been a part of this organization for 11, 12 years. “They have given me endless support, endless support for our team and I want to thank them all for being such great fans and welcoming me in their city and being so nice to me. – me and my family, really good.”
