But it didn’t end there, of course. The defenseman hopped on a private plane around 2 pm on Monday, leaving Crew with Mayson and his big sister, Wren, and got the best snippet of sleep he’d gotten since before Game 7. It would be enough. It would have to be.
Because coach Jim Montgomery wanted Carlo in the lineup.
“When you have incredible experiences in life, like the birth of a child, it’s amazing the energy it gives you,” Montgomery said. “That’s why I knew when he got here, we were going to put him in the lineup. The birth of my kids? It’s like winning a championship. “You have adrenaline like you can’t believe for three days.”
And it paid off.
Trent Frederic won a footrace with Gustav Forsling to a puck in the offensive zone and knocked it to Charlie Coyle in the final minute of the second period. The center, who Carlo pointed out is nicknamed “CC,” like his new son, saw Carlo coming up ice and found him at the top of the right circle. Carlo took the shot, banging it off the crossbar and in.
He looked up as he saw the puck go in. He saw those teammates who had greeted him as he walked in the dressing room with hugs and smiles and congratulations.
“I don’t celebrate often, but I raised my hands with that one,” goalie Jeremy Swayman said. “It’s so incredible what he did today. Just the attitude that he brought, he was so excited. I can only imagine what it’s like leaving your little one and your wife at home right after.
“And Mayson’s a big part of this team too, because of that, allowing him to come and be here and supporting him. And it’s just one of probably the most memorable moments I’ll have with this playoff run, no doubt about it.”
For Carlo, goal-scoring is not exactly an everyday occurrence. The defenseman has 28 career goals in 554 regular-season games, including four this year, and four more in 67 career playoff games, including two this postseason.
“I don’t know why, but I always just turn back to the bench and look at all the faces of the boys and that always gets me just so fired up because, like I said, I’m not a guy who scores very often,” Carlo said. “Just the faces of happiness when the guys are supporting me like that, it means so much and I feel so blessed to be part of this group.”
It’s a drama he will remember always, the Game 7 win, the birth of his son, the goal. Someday, he will tell Crew all about it, all the details and the emotions and the part that he played for his team, the exhaustion and the exhilaration, the joy.
“I haven’t even thought about that yet,” Carlo said, of what he might tell his son about the day. “But definitely a 24 hours that I won’t forget.”
