The goal highlighted an impressive performance for a veteran who is serving as not just the Monsters captain but leads the team in points on the season. Playing on a line with old U.S. Under-17 and U-18 teammate Nick Foligno and Alex Wennberg, Gerbe led the Blue Jackets with five shots on goal and was a key part of the 3-2 victory that extended the CBJ's point streak to eight and win streak to five.
"It means a lot," he said with a smile postgame. "Tonight was more than just a game for me. Playing on a line with Foligno and Wennberg, those are two real good players, so for myself, I just wanted to play my game and help those guys out."
It was a much-deserved moment for a player who just can't stop. He started his career as an NHL regular from 2011 to '16 with both Buffalo and Carolina, twice scoring 16 goals in a season. After a two-year stint in Switzerland, Gerbe returned to join the Columbus organization, and he has turned into a veteran leader at the AHL level. A year ago, he was the Monsters' representative at the league's All-Star Game thanks to 32 points in 41 games, but injuries ended his season early as he needed an operation on his hip as well as double hernia surgery.
For someone not guaranteed a chance to play at the NHL level, it took a lot of work to get back, but the passion never waned even if he wasn't sure how his body would hold up.
"It's human nature," he said of wondering if his time on the ice was nearing an end. "You're always going to have that in the back of your head going through surgeries and injuries, but I had full confidence in the work I put in outside of the rink to come back and be able to play, so it's been real fun to do that."
His ability to fill up the score sheet - he had an 8-17-25 line in 30 games with the Monsters to start the season - has proved he's back, but he wasn't the first player to get the call up to Columbus given the rash of injuries that have hit the team.
Head coach John Tortorella was happy to see Gerbe get the call when he did, though.
"Gerbs always brings energy," Tortorella said. "He's just a good pro. He's a really good guy for our team when we can call him up, but when he's down there I think he's teaching some of the young guys down there what it means to be a pro. And he can skate. Gerbs, he'll be able to skate when he's 55 (years old). He's just a bundle of energy that way, so that's a good call-up for us."
Gerbe has proved to be a key part of the organization on and off the ice since arriving, and he admits he takes pride in his leadership. While it meant a lot to finally get the return call to the NHL, no matter how the rest of this year goes, he'll fill whatever role he can for the Blue Jackets or Monsters.
"I try to help out where I can," he said. "If I see where I can help out guys, maybe if they're struggling, pushing them to work a little bit harder to reach their goal. For me, I enjoy that. I enjoy pushing people to become better, not only on the ice but off the ice.
"I guess you do grow into that a little bit, but I've always enjoyed trying to help people and push them to realize their potential."
