CALGARY — Forget Beetlejuice, Deadpool, Donald Trump and Dr. Doom masks, Calgary Flames fans are hoping one of the most popular looks this Halloween comes courtesy of Rasmus Andersson.
“The Razzy Death Stare,” smiles MacKenzie Weegar of a sinister glare so chilling it earned a name.
“Yeah, he’s made it his thing.”
In the midst of the Flames’ unlikely 4-0 start, Andersson has celebrated both of his timely goals on the road with a hostile swivel towards the glass, followed by an intense stare through the soul of a rinkside fan.
“I did it when I got my 100th point in Vancouver a couple years ago and it comes out now and then,” said Andersson with a sly grin.
“I told Lomby (Ryan Lomberg) between the first and second intermission, ‘it’s time to score and stare someone down.’
“So it was time. Just a fun thing to do.”
Probably not much fun for the glum fan.
Unless, of course, he’s not paying attention.
“The one in Vancouver did not give me a look, he was just looking up at the scoreboard and I’m like, ‘c’mon, give me a look,’” he chuckled.
“But the one in Edmonton, I saw him right away. It just happens. What’s kind of fun about it is they don’t know how to react.”
That includes Weegar, who isn’t sold on the move.
“We’ve talked about it, and I don’t know if I’m the biggest fan just because he leaves me hanging,” laughed Weegar, who has had to wait for the staredown to end before being acknowledged in the group hug.
“So if I’m on the ice with him I’m just going to skate to the bench (after a goal) now.
“Hey, as long as he keeps scoring he can do whatever he wants.
“It’s just Razzy. It’s on brand. He likes to get the crowd going and get the fans into it.”
The 27-year-old defenceman’s hallmark has long been his intensity and emotion, which is why it’s easy to interpret his impression of the Undertaker as a “screw you” response to the masses.
“Maybe a little bit,” said Weegar.
“Raz has a chip on his shoulder all the time.
“I think for all of us we have a little bit of a chip on our shoulder, so we’re using that as motivation, of course. But who knows what Razzy is thinking when he does it. I think he just wants to fire up the boys.”
It’s working.
“Maybe it’s personal to myself,” shrugged Andersson.
“I did it a few years ago and kind of liked it. It just happens.”
Andersson’s six points ties him for the team lead with Jonathan Huberdeau, and put him atop NHL scoring for defencemen until Cale Makar ran rampant Wednesday night.
He leads all Flames at plus-7, and in minutes played per game (23:01), as he builds chemistry with Flames newbie Kevin Bahl on a pairing in charge of shutting down top opponents.
He’s still working on trying to shoot the puck more, as his seven shot attempts against Philadelphia can attest.
While both goals highlighted just how dangerous his shot can be, his snipe in Edmonton was particularly slick as he first undressed Connor McDavid to get into the high slot — a move that had to be applauded by fellow blue liners around the league who’ve been similarly victimized by No. 97.
“Ya, he’s got quite a few of us,” smiled Andersson of the dangle.
“I don’t think he’s spent too much time thinking about it, if I’m honest with you.
“It was a big goal at the moment.”
Indeed, his first of three points on the night tied the game midway through the second period, kickstarting the team’s second comeback win of the season.
“I’m proudest of the way we stick with it,” he said of the team’s impressive start to a season in which no one predicted the Flames could make the playoffs.
“That’s the way we’re going to play this year — we’re just going to stick with it and try to wear teams down.
“I feel like we have a good team in here.
“We’ve been a really good third period team, so just keep that up.”
And continuing to stare down all the doubters.
INJURY UPDATE: Sam Honzek is now listed week-to-week with an upper body injury, allowing Tuesday’s fourth-line hero, Matt Coronato, to take the rookie’s place alongside Nazem Kadri and Andrei Kuzmenko at practice Thursday in Canmore, where the lads enjoyed some team-building the last few days.
