CALGARY — As far as New Year’s Eve celebrations go, MacKenzie Weegar’s was decidedly muted.
Well, before midnight anyway.
Hours before the clock turned to 2023, Weegar put an end to one of the longest scoring droughts of his career, snapping a shot from the point that got through traffic to put the Calgary Flames up 3-0 on the Vancouver Canucks late in the second period.
Despite the fact it was his first as a Flame, the former Florida Panthers defenceman showed tremendous restraint by casually lifting his stick as the stone-faced veteran was surrounded by joyous teammates.
“It was a weird play, I honestly thought it was going to be offside,” explained Weegar of a sustained forecheck that preceded the goal, which included a close call that saw Chris Tanev barely keep the puck in at the blue line.
“Tanny kept a good puck in and I didn’t want to jinx it by over-cellying.
“I’m happy it wasn’t offside and happy to get my first goal.
“Feels great, even better with the two points, obviously.”
Given the fact he’s averaged seven goals a season over the last three years, he can be forgiven for simply being happy to end a frustrating snide that coincided with his arrival in town. Weegar and Jonathan Huberdeau were shipped to Calgary in the blockbuster deal sending Matthew Tkachuk the other way this summer.
“Honestly, I was thinking like, you know, that’s classic (that they’d overturn it),” he chuckled.
“But you know what, it was a good shift. We hemmed them in there (for almost 90 seconds). Naz (Nazem Kadri) made a good pass and there was good traffic (by Huberdeau) up front and I’m happy they didn’t challenge anything.”
As someone who knew how frustrating it had been to start so slowly in town, Huberdeau was one of the first to greet Weegar with a massive grin.
The rest of the lads, well, they spent the rest of the night ribbing him for his odd reaction.
“Yep, they sure did,” smiled Weegar.
“He looked like he had scored his 50th goal, the way he celebrated,” chuckled Blake Coleman, who also scored for the Flames in a 3-2 win over Vancouver to end the Flames’ month with an 8-4-4 record.
“I think it was a little bit of exhaustion. That whole shift they were in there for about a minute and half.
“I’m sure he was excited inside.”
Sure was, as the man who had eight goals and 44 points last season entered last night’s game with just seven assists this year.
Five minutes before scoring, he added a great assist by exhibiting tremendous patience to make a long pass sending Rasmus Andersson in on a 2-on-1 Coleman finished short-handed.
Weegar’s last two-point night as a Flame came opening night.
“Weegs is the best, man – great guy, great teammate,” said Coleman, of the popular newbie who signed an eight-year, $50 million extension at the start of the season.
“We joked about it this morning, we thought he was going to get one, and he did.
“We’re happy for him. He’s a big part of our team. It’s going to be the first of many.
Sometimes it’s just funny how it works like that. It’s nice to see him get on the board and get rewarded.”
Despite struggling to add offence to his game early on, Weegar has proven to be a valuable addition due to his ability to play on the left or right side.
He’s found a home of late alongside Tanev.
“He’s a really good player for us — he really loves the game and has lots of energy and plays the right way,” said coach Darryl Sutter.
“It’s hard for him because I’ve had to move him around too much, left and right. It’s good to see him score.
“He can play minutes, that’s the important thing.”
On this night he played almost 21 minutes, was plus-3, had a team-high three hits and got that scoring monkey off his back.
Sets up 2023 nicely.
“Taken a lot of chirps from the boys that he’s got a pretty big muff(in) out there,” laughed Elias Lindholm, who opened the scoring with a goal in his 700th NHL game.
“I don’t know what was going on there (with the quiet celebration).
“I guess that’s what happens when you haven’t scored for a while.”
NOTE: The first ever outdoor Battle of Alberta was made official Saturday night, as the Flames and Oilers will do battle Oct. 29 next season at Commonwealth Stadium.