Finally, the monkey has been taken off of Connor Brown’s back.
Through 55 games this season, Brown has been an enigma for the team. Signed to a bonus lucrative contract this offseason, that is surely going to cause some pain next year, Brown was expected to be one of the best singings in the NHL.
It hasn’t turned out that wasn’t the case at all.
It took Brown 55 games to score a single goal, which now ties him in goals with Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry. It hasn’t been a great season, but last night’s goal and reaction from the team and fanbase show just how meaningful a single goal can be.
Off-the-chart vibes
Maybe we should have seen this one coming, as during the pre-game show Evander Kane interviewed with NHL on TNT practically manifested the goal happening:
It was of course Kane who would be the Oilers skater that set up Brown on his first goal of the season, practically speaking it into existence.
But more than just the goal, it was the reaction from the entire arena that truly could pull at anyone’s heartstrings. The bench was going wild, the crown gave a standing ovation, and even hats were thrown on the ice:
It’s a sight that doesn’t come often for a player who just scored his first goal in 55 games, but it’s one the player most likely needed to see.
A cynic may look at last night and say how foolish it is of the Oilers fanbase to praise a guy who has been the main target for everyone’s vitriol this season, but you would have to fight back on that and appreciate the poetry for a moment.
Maybe it’s the first step in the right direction or just a blip on the radar, but for now, you can’t help but celebrate what was one of the most heartwarming moments of the season.
One Comment