If Calgary Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson wanted to get under the skin of the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night, he did it.
The feisty 28-year-old had his fingerprints all over a 5-4 Flames victory in Minnesota over the weekend. On top of scoring a goal, he also got physically involved with an NHL legend.
During a second-period scrum, Andersson punched goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury in the mask. As expected, this didn’t sit well with Wild GM Bill Guerin, who had some strong words about his team’s response in an interview with The Athletic’s Michael Russo.
“He had his way with us,” Guerin said. “It was not fun to watch, I’ll tell you that.”
RASMUS ANDERSEN FED MARC-ANDRE
FLEURY A KNUCKLE SANDWICH AND THINGS ARE HEATING UP IN MINNESOTA 🤬 🥊
pic.twitter.com/zzVjnRFj1a— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) January 26, 2025
Andersson did not get completely let off the hook for the punch. Both Mats Zuccarello and Marco Rossi immediately responded and formed a doggie pile in the crease. However, Andersson got the last laugh, as the two teams wound up getting the same amount of penalties after the play.
While Guerin was happy to see those players go after Andersson, he was disappointed that it cost the Wild a potential PP to get back into the game.
“I mean, the pushback, you know, we’re trying to focus on winning a hockey game, and we just gave up two penalty-kill goals. And then that happens,” Guerin told The Athletic. “[Zuccarello and Rossi] jumped on Rasmus Andersson’s back and stuff. If you go out and punch him in the face, and if they score three power-play goals, it doesn’t look so great.”
Andersson served his role as a pest perfectly in the Calgary victory. On top of scoring a goal and punching Fleury, he also seemed to be a hit with a few Minnesota fans. After the goal, he did his signature stare-down of the opposing team’s fans, which left a few Wild fans laughing in their seats.
Rasmus Andersson adds onto his long list of opposing fan stare-downs after goals 👀 pic.twitter.com/oXntQkGVk0
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 26, 2025
Coming into the season, there was some speculation that Andersson’s name could wind up on the trade market. Yet, as the Flames continue to make an unlikely push toward the playoffs, it’s looking more and more like the Swede may stick around in Calgary.
Not many Flames fans should have an issue with that, especially if he continues to be a thorn in the side of other teams.