So far, so good for Johnny Gaudreau in the NHL.
Some questioned if Gaudreau would be a legitimate contributor at hockey’s highest level because of his 5-foot-9, 150-pound frame. However, he has proven in the infancy of his NHL career that he has what it takes to stick.
The Boston College product proved that again Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, with the game in a scoreless tie early in the third period. Gaudreau took a pass with a burst of speed in the neutral zone, then carried the puck into the Tampa Bay zone, where he danced around a handful of white sweaters before sliding a slick pass across the slot to Calgary defenseman Dennis Wideman. As Gaudreau went slamming into the boards, Wideman buried the chance for the game’s first goal.
After a slow start to the season, Gaudreau now has three points in his last two games. If he continues to display that signature speed and vision, those numbers should grow.
