Family Day Takes New Meaning For Flames’ New Dad Lindholm

It’s Family Day long weekend, and Calgary Flames centre Elias Lindholm just expanded his. 

He missed out on the fun while his teammates beat the New York Rangers 3-2 in overtime on Saturday night, but there was plenty of action as Lindholm and his partner partner Annica welcomed baby boy Levi into the world. 

“I don’t think you can put into words how you feel and what was happening,” Lindholm told reporters on Sunday. “But we’re happy. Everyone’s doing well, so that’s all that matters.”

If it seemed a little sudden, it’s because it was unexpected. 

The baby arrived about five weeks early. 

“The thoughts on my mind was, ‘stay in there a little longer, we’re not ready,’ ” Lindholm said. “But the way life goes, you just take it as it come and handle it the way life comes at you.”

While he was witnessing the miracle of childbirth, his teammates were pulling out a bit of their own magic to beat the Rangers in what everyone was calling a must-win with a lot of scrutiny on the Calgary Flames of late. 

Jonathan Huberdeau had a huge game with a couple of setups, including the overtime winner by Mikael Backlund. 

Lindholm was a little busy but tried to keep tabs on the game. 

“When everything went down, I didn’t think too much about hockey. Tried to follow the game as much as possible,” Lindholm said. 

“Came out of the gate pretty hot. Scored goals on the first and second shift. Set up the whole game.”

Annica’s water broke early on Saturday and there was some hope Lindholm would be able to participate both in welcoming his son to the world and beating the Rangers. But childbirth is even more unpredictable than the Flames this season. 

“I was kind of excited to maybe have a chance to play earlier on, but the way it all went down, it took too long,” Lindholm said. “All the nurses and everyone that was around was doing such an amazing job. We’re very thankful.”

He’s thankful his brothers in arms won the big game, too. 

“Really important win for us and hopefully we can build and put a couple games together,” he said. 

Another Lindholm milestone is just around the corner, too. 

He’s two points shy of 500 in the NHL. 

“It’s just a number,” he said. “Growing up as a little kid, you never dream about points or games, just playing in the NHL — if that’s one game, or 50 games or 100 games. To play 700 games earlier this season and just around the corner for 500 points … as a kid looking back at it, probably never expecting reaching these milestones.”

This one could come in Monday’s matinee against the Philadelphia Flyers. On Family Day, which holds a whole new meaning for Lindholm now.