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Calder Cup Division Finals and Player Profile I - Johnny Gaudreau |
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AHL - Conference Finals Closing In
The Cleveland Monsters have won the first two games of the best of five series against the Syracuse Crunch.
Game 1, was the final score of 1-0. The only goal came from Justin Pearson shorthanded for his second of the playoffs. Jet Greaves stopped all 28 shots. Brandon Halverson stopped 23 of 24 attempts.
Game 2, was the final score of 4-1. Syracuse scored first with a Devante Stephens’ first period goal for his first of the postseason from Sean Day and Gabriel Fortier off the powerplay. Cleveland scored 4 unanswered goals to rally the home team to the verge of the conference finals.
Billy Sweezy tied the game with his first of the playoffs from Hunter McKown and Marcus Bjork. McKwon got the game winner unassisted near the end of the first.
Jakub Zboril scored in the third for his first playoff goal as a Monster. David Jiricek and Owen Sillinger bagged the apples. Alex Welhan recorded the empty netter for his first of these playoffs with Pearson continuing his production by having the only assist.
Jet Greaves stopped 17 of 18. Brandon Halverson stopped 24 of 27.
Player Profile — Johnny Gaudreau
Johnny Gaudreau has completed his second season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. This puts him with five years remaining on his contract with a cap hit at $9.75M.
He will get a $2M signing bonus on July 1, and $7.75M paid out over the course of the entire season. For next season, his cap hit equates to 11.1% of the Blue Jackets’ entire structure.
For 8 of 10 seasons in his NHL career, Johnny Hockey has had 60 point seasons. Not once did he have a season below 15 goals, until this one. His previous low in a regular season was 18. The goal scoring touch has dropped off for the small forward. The only time he has had more than 25 goals in the last five seasons was his walk year out of Calgary, his only season with 100 points.
The Jersey boy still holds a humble family life despite the life of the party last summer with Sammy Adams and Kevin Hayes. The Boston College graduate is currently representing Team USA at the 2024 World Hockey Championships with Jackets’ skaters Zach Werenski and Gavin Brindley; and Blue Jackets’ alumn Seth Jones.
All season the rumor mill has been on Mister Gaudreau for his poor performance with the Flames and Maple Leafs recently coming up in the weeds for his services.
The big names associated in potential deals have been Jonathan Hubderdeau or Mitchell Marner.
Johnny Hockey and his wife have one daughter who arrived before his first season in the Union Blue jersey.
He will be part of hockey history next season when he joins the team in their first outdoor game in their history as a 31 year old.
Gaudreau also broke the American record for points in the Men’s World Hockey Championships with 43 points in 38 games during his stint overseas.
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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