With Lightning’s Johnson injured, Flames’ Gaudreau added to all-star game

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Johnny Gaudreau sweated it out for a couple days before finally being added to the NHL all-star game as an injury replacement.

Gaudreau, the Calgary Flames forward already at all-star weekend as a rookie to take part in the skills competition, started to hear rumours Friday he might get called up to the game, like Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers and Filip Forsberg of the Nashville Predators had.

The 21-year-old found out just before going onto the ice Saturday night for the skills competition.

“It was back and forth,” Gaudreau said. “I thought Friday I really was going to play and I guess I wasn’t. I don’t know what changed. I’m just glad to be a part of the game.”

What changed was the status of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson, who missed the skills competition and is likely out of the game with a lower-body injury. Johnson left a game last week but won’t be forced to miss another because he came to Columbus, unlike Sidney Crosby and Erik Johnson.

Gaudreau’s parents didn’t make it to town because they went to Boston College to see his younger brother Matthew play.

“They figured I was just coming to do a shootout, do a couple moves here or there and they thought it was best to go watch my younger brother play in Boston,” Gaudreau said Friday.

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