The baby bump is real.
Vancouver Canucks forward Phillip Di Giuseppe and his wife, Maggie, welcomed their second child to the world on Sunday.
On Thursday, in Game 5 of the second-round playoff series between the Canucks and Edmonton Oilers, Di Giuseppe made his return to the lineup and quickly made a big impact, scoring a game-tying goal in the second period.
The 30-year-old fourth-liner missed Games 3 and 4 in Edmonton due to the birth of his son, Sam.
“It was a tough pregnancy,” Di Giuseppe shared ahead of Thursday’s game. “Our little kid’s a warrior and I can’t be more proud of him and (my wife). Both are healthy. They’re coming home today.”
Di Giuseppe’s goal, his first ever in the playoffs, knotted the game up 2-2.
The Canucks would go on to win the game 3-2, and Di Giuseppe got emotional post-game when he was asked about the birth.
“It’s been crazy, but good emotions I guess, kind of on a high right now,” he said after the win. “…It’s been a battle of a nine months for her, and obviously with my job I’ve been away a lot and she’s been in the hospital a lot. So we’ve had a lot family come in and out and support us. Like I’ve said before, it takes a village, and it’s a blessing we got one.”