Lazar returns to Vancouver for the first time since the Canucks traded him to the New Jersey Devils.
"Here's Riley Stillman at the other end. They score! Curtis Lazar finally has his second goal of the year."
New Jersey Devils fans were not exactly celebrating that Lazar goal on Feb. 6, 2023. At the time, the Salmon Arm native was a member of the Vancouver Canucks, and his snap shot got past current teammate Vitek Vanecek, pulling his team within one in the waning seconds of the middle frame.
Eventually, the Devils would beat the Canucks in overtime, 5-4, and a little under a month later, Lazar would be told he was traded from Vancouver to New Jersey.
Tonight marks Lazar's return to Vancouver and the first time the two teams will meet since that 5-4 overtime victory.
"It's no secret that I have bounced around," Lazar said to Devils reporter Catherine Bogart. "It's not the first time going against a former team, but this place is the closest to my hometown. To have family and friends in attendance is always special."
A quick Google search will reveal that Salmon Arm is around a five hour drive from Vancouver.
Lazar shared that his mother and father would be in attendance tonight at Rogers Arena, in addition to his wife's grandfather.
"My parents are going to make the majority of this trip," he said. "They are going to be logging a lot of kilometers, so it's good. Even being around town the past couple of days running into some friends, it is always good."
"This is familiar territory for myself, but it is another day in the office, and it's time to go to work," he continued.
Throughout his career, Lazar has played ten games against the Canucks and has two assists. This season in New Jersey, the 28-year-old has seven points (four goals, three assists), including two multi-point games.
"It is good to come back (and) what a great opportunity for our team to kind of get things back on track. We have to start this road trip off right."
Puck drop between the Devils and Canucks will be 10:00 P.M.