On Nov. 20, 2021, the New York Islanders opened the doors to UBS Arena after starting their season on a 13-game road trip to allow for the final touches.
Their opponent was the Calgary Flames, the team that the Islanders played their inaugural game against on Oct. 7, 1972, when they were playing out of Atlanta.
For those who remember, the Islander roster was rather incomplete as a case of COVID-19 spread like wildfire, ultimately falling 5-2.
The Islanders were without the following: Anders Lee, Adam Pelech, Anthony Beauvillier, Josh Bailey, Ryan Pulock
Brock Nelson scored the team’s first goal in Elmont, a goal that had a delayed celebration after the officials failed to call it a goal on the ice:
But what many may not remember about that game is how the late Johnny Gaudreau left his mark.
In 15:42 minutes, Gaudreau tallied a goal on four shots, with an assist and a hit.
He also took the first-ever penalty at UBS Arena for slashing at 1:23 of the first period.
Gaudreau’s goal sealed the Islanders’ fate, scoring on th empty net with 38 seconds to play in regulation.
Gaudreau went on to have his best season in the NHL, scoring a career-high 40 goals, with a career-high 75 assists for a career-high 115 points, playing in all 82 games.
He was a +64.
Gaudreau scored the greatest goal of his career in the 2021 postseason, lighting the lamp at 15:09 of overtime of Game Seven to knock off the Dallas Stars and punch the Flames’ ticket to the Western Conference Finals:
Gaudreau and his brother Matthew tragically lost their lives this past summer due to an alleged drunk driver on the night of their sister’s rehearsal dinner.
They were both amazing hockey players, but even better people and we continue to pass along our thoughts to his family, friends and teammates.
