Dillon Dube’s additional time winner for the Calgary Flames on Monday capped Johnny Gaudreau’s eventful return to the Saddledome.
Dube ended Calgary’s seesaw battle with the Columbus Blue Jackets at 2:25 of additional time for a 4-3 win.
Gaudreau had two assists, missed a penalty and was continuously booed by Flames followers in his first sport in Calgary since leaving for Columbus as an unrestricted free agent final July.
“The followers are very passionate. They care rather a lot about our group and that is what they confirmed tonight,” stated Dube. “They care rather a lot about us, so we admire that. It felt actually good to win for them tonight.”
Calgary led 2-0 and 3-2 within the second interval, however the Blue Jackets didn’t wish to go simple.
Gaudreau tangled with Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin and went down in Calgary’s zone in additional time, opening a lane for Andrew Mangiapane to feed Dube on a two-on-one for the winner.
Mangiapane had a purpose and two assists, and Walker Duehr and Nazem Kadri additionally scored for the Flames (23-16-9).
Calgary goalie Dan Vladar made 21 stops for his second win in as many begins, whereas Columbus counterpart Joonas Korpisalo had 45 within the loss.
Patrik Laine led the Blue Jackets (14-31-2) with a purpose and two assists. Kirill Marchenko and Boone Jenner additionally scored for Columbus, which sits on the backside of the NHL standings.
Gaudreau, who ranks fifth all-time in Flames franchise factors with 609, was greeted by boos and mocking chants of “John-ny” the second he stepped on the ice.
“We knew it was going to be that form of atmosphere. Johnny had an impressive sport,” Blue Jackets head coach Brad Larsen stated. “The blokes have been combating. We had some puck administration points, no query.”
Gaudreau was awarded a penalty kick 5 minutes into the opening interval when Calgary defender MacKenzie Weegar hooked him on a breakaway.
Learn extra:
Johnny Gaudreau returns to Calgary’s Saddledome as a Blue Jacket
Learn subsequent:
Ontario couple’s tracked baggage donated to charity by Air Canada
A wave of boos adopted the left winger’s method to the online, intensifying as he shot the puck excessive to try to decide the highest nook of the online.
A video tribute minutes later introduced many within the crowd of 17,697 to their toes to acknowledge Gaudreau’s eight seasons of Flames service, however that goodwill was short-lived.
“I believe it simply reveals how good a participant he was and the way vital he was to this group as a result of you do not get that form of response whenever you’re not that vital,” Dube stated.
The Blue Jackets have been known as for too many males with simply over six minutes left in regulation, however Calgary didn’t flip the benefit right into a go-ahead purpose.
“I will allow you to take a look at it. Should you inform me it is too many males, I will purchase you lunch,” Larsen stated.
Jenner tied the rating 3-3 at 4:34 of the third interval when he selected to shoot two-on-one with Gaudreau.
Trailing 2-0, Columbus tied the sport halfway by means of the second interval with two powerplay targets in a 49-second span earlier than Mangiapane put Calgary forward once more at 16:17.
The Blue Jackets’ energy play showcased Gaudreau’s puck distribution abilities. He fed the puck to Laine, who dropped to a knee to push away a shot by Vladar at 9:53 of the second interval
Marchenko scored when he ripped Gaudreau’s cross-ice go over Vladar’s glove at 9:04.
Learn extra:
Calgary Flames prospect Dustin Wolf dominates in 2nd AHL season
Learn subsequent:
Doomsday Clock Strikes Nearer to Midnight Amid ‘Unprecedented Hazard’ of Russia’s Warfare
Calgary’s Milan Lucic and Blue Jackets winger Mathieu Olivier traded punches because the rating was tied 2-2.
“Looch’s battle definitely turned us again as we should always have,” stated Dube.
Kadri’s game-winning nineteenth purpose put Calgary up 2-0 with 1:32 left within the second interval. The Flames’ celebration of Duehr’s purpose at 16:18 of the primary interval was delayed.
His one-timer from simply above the tee deflected off the within of Korpisalo’s pad so rapidly that it was unclear the place the puck was till officers fished it from the again of the online.
Referred to as up from the AHL’s Wranglers for the primary time this season on Jan. 7, Duehr has two targets in six video games.
Flames defenseman Chris Tanev left the sport halfway by means of the primary interval after a impartial zone collision.
VALUABLE VLADAR
The Flames have earned not less than a degree in Vladar’s final 12 begins, posting a 9-0-3 file since Nov. 29. It’s the longest energetic scoring streak this season amongst NHL goaltenders.
NEW FACES
The Blue Jackets had six rookies play their ultimate 16 video games with a half-dozen regulars on injured reserve, together with Jakob Voracek (concussion) and Zach Werenski (torn labrum) for the season.
FOLLOWING
The Flames are at residence in opposition to the Chicago Blackhawks (14-27-4) on Thursday and on the street in opposition to the Seattle Kraken on Friday earlier than their all-star break.
Columbus continues a four-game western street journey in opposition to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. The Blue Jackets are 3-16-1 on the street this season.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
