The first one smashed off the glass, the second rang off the boards.
They weren’t missed shots by Johnny Gaudreau, they were angry stick slams during the winger’s last home game.
Things haven’t exactly gone swimmingly for the Calgary Flames’ 23-year-old jitterbug since he signed a six-year, $40.5-million deal two days before the season started.
While he’s tied for the team lead with seven points in 11 games, the former 30-goal scorer has only two goals in a very uninspiring start to the season.
More glaringly absent is his ability to get fans out of their seats on a nightly basis, using his speed and unparalleled shiftiness to beat players one-on-one and create the most unlikely of scoring chances.
The highlight-reel rushes that typically start with his legs pumping like a sewing machine needle have been snuffed out early all month.
Save for a few great setups, he’s been pedestrian at best.
It’s not for a lack of effort.
It appears at times opponents have simply figured him out or he’s trying to do too much.
That can happen when you’re anointed the face of a franchise and paid accordingly.
The 5-foot-9, 157-pound dynamo just isn’t able to make the game look as easy as he did at the World Cup.
And with the added pressure that comes with getting a very public 600 per cent raise, Gaudreau has responded to his early struggles with several PDAs – public displays of agitation.
“I’m starting to see some frustration,” said coach Glen Gulutzan before his club left for a four-game road tester that opened with a 5-1 loss in Chicago Tuesday that saw Gaudreau held scoreless and finish minus-3.
“And frustration is the enemy.”
Gulutzan sat down with his prized left-winger before Tuesday’s game to address the growing vexation that surely satisfies opponents every time they see it on display.
It was the first lengthy, heart-to-heart conversation the two have shared since Gaudreau arrived. The new coach obviously didn’t get a chance to meet No. 13 in camp.
“I just tried to help him in his mindset,” Gulutzan told the gathered media Tuesday morning. “We went through some of the numbers and some things and a little bit of video. We looked at some things to try and get him re-focused and take away some of that frustration. There are a lot of variables here with him: He’s come in late. He’s got a new coach.
“You can tell he’s a guy that wants to make a difference every night. We just wanted to alleviate some of that frustration for him, so we had a little chat.”
Gaudreau openly admits his irritation, which he explains stems largely from the team’s poor start.
Understandable.
It doesn’t help when you finish sixth in league scoring a year earlier with 78 points, and now sit minus-8.
Then again, Gaudreau only had one goal his first dozen games last year too, albeit with 11 helpers.
Upon arrival the day before the season opener, Gaudreau insisted he didn’t think missing training camp would negatively affect his timing given how successful his stint was with Team North America weeks earlier.
Looks like he was wrong.
What’s also missing is the chemistry he’s had with centre Sean Monahan the last two seasons. Monahan has four goals, no assists and is also minus-8 after missing all but one pre-season game with a back injury.
The even-keeled Monahan has taken it much more in stride, but clearly can’t be happy with his, or his team’s, early fate.
Truth is they haven’t even been Calgary’s top line, save for maybe one game. Matters haven’t been helped by the fact the Flames have yet to find a suitable winger for them since Jiri Hudler left late last year.
Alex Chiasson has been a gamely addition, but the trio has little to show for it.
Few teams can piece together successful strings without its top line being its leading unit.
Their struggles have been magnified on the Flames’ 29th-ranked power play, currently operating at less than 10 per cent.
It all helps explain why the Flames are 4-6-1 as they head to the West Coast for a trio of toughies.
“He loves to win,” said Gulutzan, of a player who hadn’t missed the playoffs his entire life until last season.
“He’s passionate. He’s competitive.”
And he’s bound to break out of his funk soon.
Either that or break a few sticks in anger.
