The St. Louis Blues center bought Boston native John Corrado a brand-new guitar after Corrado recognized him Tuesday, the day before Game 7 between the Blues and Bruins at TD Garden (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS).
Tweet from @JohnCorrado5: #goodguyalert just met Ryan O���Rielly bought me a guitar while seshing at guitar center in Boston. Great player, Unreal guy! @BizNasty2point0 @stoolpresidente @spittinchiclets @RearAdBsBlog @ryanwhitney6 @MikeGrinnell_ @barstoolsports pic.twitter.com/ISWK9TdmCJ
O'Reilly, who
wrote and recorded a song
as a member of the Buffalo Sabres, entered the Guitar Center on Boylston Street. Corrado, a huge Bruins fan, was scoping out acoustic guitars when he recognized O'Reilly and watched him walk into another room to play.
"Immediately I did a double take," Corrado told NHL.com. "I knew it was him from the beard."
Corrado approached O'Reilly after he exited the room and they struck up a conversation about music. O'Reilly then offered to buy Corrado any guitar he wanted. Corrado let O'Reilly choose for him and went home with a Seagull-brand acoustic guitar.
"I refused right away, but he assured me it wasn't about the money," Corrado said. "He just really loves music and wants others to enjoy what he has found special in his time playing guitar."
Corrado will still be rooting for the Bruins in Game 7, but O'Reilly's gesture has made him a fan.
"I told him I would've said 'good luck,' but he understood that I really couldn't," Corrado said. "I hope one day I could thank him. It's really inspiring. Maybe one day we can play together."
