Flames' Gaudreau to return vs. Oilers after leave of absence

Johnny Gaudreau will return to the Calgary Flames' lineup Saturday night after taking a leave of absence to be with his family, the team announced.

Gaudreau left the team - which was in Los Angeles at the the time - on Sunday to return home to New Jersey after his father suffered a cardiac event last weekend.

Luckily, his father is now doing better, and will be watching as Johnny and the Flames take on the Edmonton Oilers.

"He's doing really well," Gaudreau said. "Very excited to watch my brother (Matthew Gaudreau of the ECHL's Worcester Railers) and me play tonight. He told my mom this morning that he's going to take a three- or four-hour nap this afternoon so he can stay up late, cause it's a late one tonight. He's doing really well right now. A scary couple of days there. We're very, very fortunate."

The Flames will certainly be grateful to have Gaudreau back in the fold, as the team struggled mightily in his absence, dropping both games this week (against the Kings and Columbus Blue Jackets) by a combined score of 8-1.

The 24-year-old has already set a career high in points this season with 82 in 76 games.