Ryan Getzlaf scored his ultimate NHL level with a behind-the-back move to Adam Henrique for a objective with 2:41 to play, and the longtime Anaheim captain wrapped up a 17-year profession spent completely with the Geese in a 6-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday evening.
With one final little bit of playmaking brilliance from one of many high facilities of his period, Getzlaf completed his prolific profession with 1,019 factors, the 88th-most in league historical past.
Getzlaf broke in unmarked on St. Louis goalie Ville Husso with ample time to shoot — however consistent with the pass-first philosophy that outlined his profession, Getzlaf gracefully spun and put a elegant move onto Henrique’s tape for a objective.
The sellout crowd at Honda Heart repeatedly roared for the Geese’ longtime captain and playmaking middle from his first step on the ice to his ultimate, teary departure. After the ultimate whistle, he stepped beneath a highlight on the middle circle within the darkened enviornment and gave his due to the gang and his household.
Jordan Kyrou, Vladimir Tarasenko, Ivan Barbashev and Justin Faulk had a objective and an help apiece throughout a dominant second interval by the Blues, who fell behind 2-0 within the first interval earlier than rallying for his or her 14th win in 16 video games.
Pavel Buchnevich and Marco Scandella added third-period objectives and Husso made 14 saves for St. Louis, which remained even with Minnesota for second place within the Central Division and residential ice of their playoff sequence, though the Wild have a recreation in hand.
Max Comtois and Gerry Mayhew scored within the first interval for the Geese, who've misplaced 19 of twenty-two within the dismal end to their fourth straight non-playoff season. John Gibson stopped 31 pictures.
The 36-year-old Getzlaf is the Geese’ franchise chief in factors, assists, playoff scoring and video games performed, and he served because the Geese’ captain for a team-record 12 seasons. An often-brilliant passer with spectacular ice imaginative and prescient and a imply streak, he grew to become the 92nd participant in NHL historical past to attain 1,000 factors final November — and solely the forty fifth to do it with one staff.
He gained the Stanley Cup in 2007 alongside Corey Perry, his fellow 2003 draftee and finest pal. The longtime linemates spent 14 seasons collectively in Anaheim earlier than Perry was launched in 2019.
With their playoff hopes already dashed, the Geese turned their house finale right into a tribute recreation for Getzlaf. 1000's of followers anticipating one thing to have a good time after a dismal half-decade in Anaheim hockey lined up exterior two hours earlier than the sector doorways opened.
After a pregame tribute video, Getzlaf and his spouse and 4 youngsters joined staff homeowners Henry and Susan Samueli at middle ice. The Geese offered Getzlaf with an around-the-world golf trip, adopted by an off-road car pushed onto the ice by beloved Geese legend Teemu Selanne.
Anaheim then rode the momentum from its crowd to attain on its first two pictures in opposition to the Blues. Comtois banged house a doorstep move from Vinni Lettieri, and Mayhew adopted up with a slap shot by way of site visitors from the blue line.
However the Blues’ enormous expertise benefit confirmed within the second interval. After Kyrou and Tarasenko bought credit score for objectives on deflected pictures, an unmarked Barbashev put the Blues forward together with his twenty sixth objective from point-blank vary earlier than Faulk added his sixteenth objective.
Buchnevich scored his career-best thirtieth objective, and Kyrou grew to become St. Louis’ fourth 70-point scorer this season.
Tyler Bozak returned from a six-week damage absence for St. Louis, and Robert Thomas had an help to increase his factors streak to a career-best 17 video games.
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