The words from the Western Conference scout can’t be ignored.
A sleep removed from the Calgary Flames thrilling 4-3 overtime win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night, he was asked about Johnny Gaudreau’s clutch game-tying goal with 19.5 seconds left in regulation time.
“He made a confident decision skating into the zone as he knew he was taking that shot upon himself,” he said via e-mail. “Was given the ice and time and delivered a clutch goal.
“A special player.”
That last part is a running theme.
Ask Flames head coach Bob Hartley about Gaudreau’s ability to step up in big moments and his description is the same.