First, Nick Ritchie greeted him with a bear hug. Then came Beauchemin with another embrace. Montour joined in, and then Antoine Vermette. Without the services of Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Patrick Eaves, Hampus Lindholm, Ryan Miller and former Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen, Grant's production was needed. But he wasn't done.
With the score 4-2 in favor of the Ducks in the third period, and his line hemming the Canadiens in the zone, Grant finished off a nice pass from Ondrej Kase with 12:48 left in regulation. "Kaser made a great play on the second one to get me an easy one," Grant said. "All the credit to him."
The Ducks went on to win the game, 6-2.
19) Rakell Makes All-Star Debut with Special Guest
When Ducks left wing Rickard Rakell found out he was an NHL All-Star for the first time in his career, he reached out to a close friend. Her name is Katie Hawley, the outgoing teen who was named the 21st Duck for the season/home opener in October. Rakell formed a special bond with the Ladera Ranch native and wanted her to be a part of the NHL All-Star Weekend festivities in Tampa, Florida in late January.
From meeting other All Stars on Media Day, including New Jersey's Brian Boyle (who was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in September), being on the ice for the All-Star Skills Competition and seeing her favorite player score twice in the final for the Pacific Division All-Stars, it was a weekend to remember for both Rakell and Hawley.
"This whole weekend has been incredible," Hawley said at the time. "It's been so amazing. I'm so glad that it had a great end to it, too."