Saddledome spurs fond memories for Dubois
CALGARY, Alberta — Pierreluc Dubois likes the ice at the Scotiabank Saddledome, but there’s another reason the Calgary Flames’ home is one he’ll always remember.
The Blue Jackets’ 20-year-old center, who faced the Flames there again Tuesday night, notched his first NHL hat trick last season at the Saddledome. Dubois scored the 16th, 17th and 18th goals of his rookie season March 29, 2018, in a 5-1 victory.
“I remember exactly how I felt last year going into the game,” said Dubois, who scored a goal in each period. “I was excited to play, and the first couple of shifts I had a couple chances. I think even if I didn’t score three goals, I still would’ve remembered that game.”
It was a big confidence boost for the rest of his season, too.
“My game was just getting better and better,” Dubois said. “That’s kind of what you want to feel like before the playoffs and this (late) push.”
Another one to remember
Like most players, Alexander Wennberg has a few NHL arenas that hold sentimental value.
He remembers his first game at Madison Square Garden, where he’d watched the New York Rangers play a couple of games as a teen. He remembers his first skate at the Bell Centre in Montreal, too, surrounded by hockey history.
And then, there’s the Saddledome.
“I have good memories of this one, too,” Wennberg said. “I had my first and only fight here.”
It happened Dec. 16, 2016, against Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk, then a rookie. Tkachuk drilled former Blue Jackets forward Brandon Saad, right in front of Wennberg, and that’s what sparked it.
Wennberg’s twohand shove, standing in front of the Jackets bench, prompted Tkachuk to wheel around and throw his gloves off. Wennberg did the same and traded punches a second later, a couple of days after having a conversation about fighting with Jody Shelley, the Blue Jackets’ TV analyst and former enforcer.
“It was over pretty quick,” said Wennberg, who landed a straight left to Tkachuk’s jaw. “It’s not a great fight, but I did my best.”
Question marks
Captain Nick Foligno missed his second game while dealing with a personal issue, and defenseman Markus Nutivaara was scratched because of an illness, replaced by Dean Kukan.
Tortorella didn’t provide an update on forward Ryan Dzingel at the Jackets’ optional skate, but the forward played against the Flames. He missed practice Monday while “nicked up,” possibly from a big hit by Zdeno Chara on Saturday in Boston.
TV change-up
The Blue Jackets announced that NBC Sports Network has picked up their final regular-season home game April 2 against the Boston Bruins.
The game, which has a 7 p.m. start time, will no longer be broadcast locally on Fox Sports Ohio.
It’s one of two games that NBCSN added to its schedule in the final week of the regular season and will be the second time the Blue Jackets are featured on the network this season.