nypost
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — After spending the first four seasons of his professional career struggling to secure a consistent NHL role, Glenn Gawdin had been grinding in the American Hockey League. His perseverance paid off when he received his first big-league opportunity in over two years during the Rangers' four-game road trip out West.
A native of Richmond, B.C., Gawdin held onto the belief that hard work would eventually earn him another chance. That chance came in front of his home crowd, in the arena located less than 30 minutes from where he grew up, and he made the most of it by scoring the first two goals of his NHL career to propel the Blueshirts to a 5-1 win over the Canucks on Friday night.
The victory sent the Rangers back to New York with six of a possible eight points from their longest road trip of the season.
Gawdin joined the team during their day off in Calgary earlier this week, but head coach Mike Sullivan called upon the 29-year-old center amid the Rangers' growing need for a fourth-line center with Joe Veleno still on long-term injured reserve. At the time of his recall, Gawdin had recorded five goals and nine assists through 16 AHL games, tying him with Liam Greentree for the Wolf Pack lead in points.
Not only was Gawdin's play deserving of a look, but the Rangers had signed him to a two-year, two-way contract this past offseason.
Gawdin accounted for half of the Rangers' four-goal second period, which featured a surge of three tallies in a span of 3:09. Oliver Bjorkstrand broke a 1-1 tie on the power play less than halfway through the middle frame to give the Rangers their first lead of the night. After Canucks goalie Leevi Merilainen misfired a pass at former Ranger Filip Chytil less than five minutes later, Gawdin was right there to clean up the puck and put it away.
The Rangers' top line of Mika Zibanejad, Gabe Perreault and Alexis Lafrenière was responsible for the third score of the period, when a pretty passing sequence ended with Lafrenière backhanding his 10th goal of the season past Merilainen at the 15:14 mark. Gawdin then got a stick on a Vladislav Gavrikov shot for a commanding 5-1 lead heading into the third period.
This was a straightforward win over an inferior opponent. Including a 6-2 loss at Madison Square Garden earlier this season, the Canucks have just one win in regulation this season dating back to Oct. 3. The loss Friday night marked their seventh in a row and the 17th in their last 18 games.
The Canucks had the puck for a good portion of the first period, sustaining quite a bit of offensive zone time despite recording only three high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick. It led to the home team opening the scoring when Elias Pettersson got a stick on a Zeev Buium shot from the point.
Jolted by the Canucks' goal, the Rangers kicked it into gear and began their push. Perreault then sniped the puck into the tiniest opening above the shoulder of Merilainen for his third goal in the last five games and seventh of the season.
Key Analysis
Gawdin's performance was a bright spot for a Rangers team that has been searching for depth scoring. His two goals in front of family and friends made for a memorable homecoming, and his ability to capitalize on limited opportunities could earn him more ice time moving forward. Meanwhile, the Canucks' struggles continue, with the team mired in a deep slump that has seen them lose 17 of their last 18 games. The Rangers' road trip success positions them well as they return home.
Originally reported by nypost.