Flames prank Senators' Filip Gustavsson after first NHL win by stealing game puck
Nothing was going to spoil Filip Gustavsson's night, even if the Calgary Flames went to goofy lengths after the final whistle to do so Monday.
Gustavsson made 35 saves to help the Ottawa Senators to a 2-1 win during his first NHL start, and was predictably greeted with enthusiasm by his teammates after the game.
It's standard procedure for players to get the game puck as a keepsake for major milestones. Gustavsson ought to have been no different and one would expect the opposing team to abide by this unwritten rule. Evidently, the Flames, who are no strangers to hijinx this season, didn't get the memo.
Flames make it difficult for the Sens to get the game puck for 22-year-old Filip Gustavsson, who got his first NHL win pic.twitter.com/HtTctLVSlg
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) March 23, 2021
Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson scooped the puck off the ice and attempted to skate away to the bench. Brady Tkachuk was having none of it and had some words for Andersson, who responded by throwing the puck down the ice.
Brady's older brother, Matthew – who stars for the Flames – joined the pile on but somewhat helped defuse things by shooting the puck toward the Senators' end of the rink. Off-camera, Brady Tkachuk or another Senators teammate retrieved the puck for Gustavsson, preserving a special moment for the 22-year-old.
Gus: NHL winner! #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/pmCQSWuOHT
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 23, 2021
The interdivisional format was bound to produce some tense moments and Monday's sideshow is perhaps another indication of how much these teams are beginning to hate each other. Evidently nothing was going to ruin Gustavsson's night, least of all some pretty petty antics from the Flames, who have now dropped three of their past four games.
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