That’s a stigma no hockey player ever wants to have attached to their name.
On Sunday night, in the biggest game of his career and one of the biggest games in the last three decades of Calgary Flames history, Gaudreau put any doubts about his playoff proficiency to bed.
When his team needed him the most, Gaudreau stepped up. Twice.
He had the assist on Matthew Tkachuk’s game-tying goal in the second period.
And then, when tensions were at their highest in overtime and every Flames fan in the Scotiabank Saddledome was wondering if there was anything anyone could do to put a puck past Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger, it was Gaudreau who buried one in the back of the net to secure the 3-2 win and set off celebrations across the city.