More people need to be talking about the Rasmus Andersson post-goal celebration. It’s becoming iconic. No matter where he is, the Calgary Flames defenceman finds a fan of the opposing team and offers them the death stare for a few seconds before moving on.
We’ve seen it at times in past seasons. This year, though, he’s gone three-for-three with the stare down. A lone Pittsburgh Penguins fan sitting front row behind the glass got the brunt of it in the first period Tuesday night at the Saddledome when Andersson netted his third goal of the season.
Andersson was driving the net and whipped a fanned pass from Justin Kirkland top shelf on Pens netminder Alex Nedeljkovic to givfe the Flames a 1-0 lead 11:48 into the game. He quickly discovered the yellow-jersey’d Pens supporter for the dreaded stare.
Andersson nearly added a second at the other end but ripped a wrister off the crossbar after a nice feed from Mikael Backlund. Lots of yellow behind the goalie there, too.
Coined the “Razzy Death Stare” by fellow blueliner MacKenzie Weegar last week in a chat with Sportsnet, the celebration is certainly one of the most unique in the NHL. With three goals through the first six games, it’s getting noticed. But he didn’t spring it on Calgary Flames fans this season.
“I did it when I got my 100th point in Vancouver a couple years ago and it comes out now and then,” Andersson told Sportsnet’s Eric Francis last week after the team’s 4-0 start to the year.
The way he’s playing so far, there could be plenty more to come to pad out the highlight reel.
Prior to the third period on Tuesday, Andersson had three goals and seven points through the first six games so far. The 27-year-old defenceman scored 11 goals in 2022-23, finishing with 49 points. His career high 50-point season came the previous season.
