Phillip Gustafson, a 22-year-old goalie for Ottawa, made his NHL debut and picked up his first career win with a strong 35-save performance and a .972 save percentage. He was the team’s third-string goalie but stepped up when called upon, following in the footsteps of teammate Joey Daccord, who did the same thing a week earlier. After the game, Gustafson was seen celebrating with teammates, trying to decide who to give the game puck to—possibly his dad, wife, or grandma.
Things got weird when players from Calgary appeared to keep the puck from him. One Flames player scooped it up and started heading to the bench. Matthew Tkachuk, known for stirring things up, eventually tossed it away. His explanation afterward felt half-hearted. He claimed he didn’t realize it was Gustafson’s first win and returned the puck once he heard the Ottawa players yelling. Still, the whole move looked petty, and few seemed to buy his story. Gustafson got the puck in the end, so no harm done, but the moment added some awkward energy to an otherwise clean debut win.