For a rare time, if not the first time, Patrick Roy’s visit went unnoticed at the Bell Center on Tuesday evening. By the spectators, that is.
Some media pointed out that his visit coincided within a day of the 29e anniversary of his last game in a Canadian uniform. But there comes a time when you have to come back and give up.
Patrick doesn’t want to talk about it anymore. Neither does Mario. The two made their peace and moved on.
There will always be those who say that this sad story between Casseau and the bionic Bleuet marked the beginning of the end of the Canadian’s empire. That’s partly true, because the organization has had three decades to get back on its feet and still hasn’t gotten there.
In need of big stars
The spectators who went to the Bell Center for the clash between the Habs and the Islanders especially wanted to see Patrik Laine, whom they had only seen during four periods in preparatory games.
A sign that fans are looking for a big star in the Canadian, they reacted to the slightest movements of the slender Finnish striker. They were advised, however, that they should not ask too much of a player who had not played for almost a year. But Laine did very well under the circumstances.
No doubt the adrenaline flowing through his veins had something to do with it. After a soporific first period and a very quiet start to the second as well, Laine stirred up the fans with his first goal in the blue, white, red jersey, scored during a power play.
From the top of the press bridge, we saw the game taking shape. When Lane Hutson’s pass landed on Laine’s stick, which was placed in the faceoff circle to the right of goalie Ilya Sorokin, we immediately guessed his intentions.
It was as if we had been in his place in the far upper part of the net.
The puck had eyes.
There was perhaps a bit of Brother André in this shot, the holy thaumaturge of Mount Royal whom Laine and his partner had visited the day before.
Ovations reserved for adults
Laine received the kind of ovation reserved for players of great reputation. Even Cole Caufield has never received a standing ovation like Laine did. When a scorer of Laine’s caliber counts, we feel the extra that the spectators add in their clamor.
The building shakes.
Caufield would also come to obtain this mark of recognition. It could be soon to see him count as he has since the start of the season.
But last night, the crowd had it especially for Laine. She gave him a second huge ovation when he was presented as the first star of the meeting. Sports Montreal is no different from other cities.
We like big stars, especially when they wear blue, white and red sweaters.
Montembeault did his Patrick
As for the rest of the evening, the crowd didn’t have much to sink their teeth into. No, that’s not entirely true.
Samuel Montembeault did his Patrick Roy on several occasions, under the amazed gaze of fans.
That said, the Islanders are not much stronger than the Canadian.
Roy may be more experienced than Martin St-Louis behind a bench, but he cannot accomplish miracles with the aging Islanders team, whose average age is 29.6 years old. They are very ordinary, these Islanders.
They are like their general director, Lou Lamoriello, that is to say not very colorful.
The Canadian can at least hope for better days with his impressive bank of prospects.
