It was announced that John Gaudreau, Calgary Flames winger, is scheduled to get surgery on a broken finger. That injury occurred when the Flames played the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Gaudreau took a slash from Eric Staal, while trying to carry the puck out of the zone in the third period. He left the game, and did not return. Now it is estimated he will miss at least a few weeks.
Before he left the game, Gaudreau scored the only goal of the game; after receiving a beautiful pass from defenseman Mark Giordano. This added one more point to the ten Gaudreau already had this season. He now has 11 points in 17 games; a team-leading stat.
Johnny Gaudreau To Get Surgery for Broken Finger
Last season Gaudreau proved his worth, after getting 78 points in 79 games. However, he had the status of an RFA until October 10 of this year. On that day, he signed a six-year contract, totalling $40.5 million.
Sam Bennett is stepping up to take Gaudreau’s spot on a line with Troy Brouwer and Sean Monahan. This line went into action after Gaudreau left the ice, but didn’t put up any points; since the only goal scored was Gaudreau’s.
With Gaudreau out, a lot of Flames fans are worried how the team will fare. He has proved to be one of the best players on the team; and there is certainly a hole left by him. “No one is going to come in and be Johnny and create like he creates or put up those numbers that he puts up,” said Giordano, when asked about the injury. Still, Giordano says they’re going to push through and rally together as a team.
They have the potential, but even with Gaudreau in the lineup they’ve struggled. Their main point of struggling is in the defensive zone. They have the second highest goals against, tallying 58 in 17 games. That’s an average of 3.50 per game, a stat that has them amongst the bottom five of the league.
The Flames say they’re prepared for the worse when it comes to finding out how long the star forward will be out. But even if it’s only a few weeks, Calgary is in for a challenge ahead.
Main Photo
CALGARY, AB – MARCH 26: Johnny Gaudreau #13 of the Calgary Flames in action against the Chicago Blackhawks during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on March 26, 2016 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
