I suppose this was bound to happen.
Ottawa Senators forward Matt Duchene scored in his return to his old stomping grounds on Friday, sticking it to the Colorado Avalanche one last time.
The Avalanche had just played a tribute video for Duchene on the jumbotron inside Pepsi Center. Duchene waved from the Sens bench and then scored seconds later.
Here’s the entire sequence:
Matt Duchene receives a tribute and ovation in his return to Colorado and scores immediately after pic.twitter.com/cFXlrVVwQF
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) October 27, 2018
Duchene said it was going to be an emotional game for himself prior to puck drop.
The tribute was more of a public service announcement, if we’re being honest. The announcer rattled off some of his stats from his time in Colorado. No video tribute, only a camera planted on Duchene who gave a wave to the cheering crowd.
A moment for Matt Duchene. https://t.co/denDF8HjGA
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 27, 2018
The Duchene trade is nearing its one year anniversary.
He was dealt to the Senators in a mammoth three-team deal on Nov. 5 after months of speculation on his future with the Avs.
Earlier this week, Duchene figured he might hear some boos from the Avs’ faithful.
“I’m sure there will be the odd one,” Duchene told the Ottawa Sun. “But people have to understand that I gave everything I had when I was there.”
That didn’t stop the boos coming his way.
And ... Matt Duchene gets booed upon touching the puck for the first time. #Avs
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) October 27, 2018
Whether Duchene gave his all to Colorado will be debated amongst fans for a while to come.
The stats suggest he was pretty good, though.
Matt Duchene found the back of the net in his first game in Colorado since Nov 2. 2017. He collected 178-250—428 in 586 GP with the Avalanche. #NHLStats #OTTvsCOL https://t.co/13ogEZkcuv
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 27, 2018
UPDATE: Duchene has his second of the game against his old team.
A big thanks to the @Avalanche organization and Avs fans for the tribute tonight... was one of the most emotional moments of my life. It meant the absolute world to me. Once and Av, always an Av.
— Matt Duchene (@Matt9Duchene) October 27, 2018
Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck