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Patrik Laine opens up on Canadiens fans' insane reception during team's 5-0 rout of Flyers
Patrik Laine made his preseason debut with the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night after being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a blockbuster deal. A former second-overall pick, Laine had requested a trade from the Blue Jackets, and Montreal ended up acquiring him.
In his first game with the Canadiens, the team secured a 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. When Patrik Laine touched the puck for the first time, the Bell Centre erupted, and the forward described the moment as "cool" for him.
“I’ve played here many times, but never in pre-season,” Laine said, via Sportsnet. “It was absolutely crazy tonight, so I wasn’t expecting that. Super happy to be here. This crowd is just one of the best I’ve ever seen, so more than happy to be playing here in the future.”
Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis says he had his back turned to the play and once he heard the cheer, he turned around. After the game, he said it had to be a special moment for Laine.
“I didn’t know what was happening, to be honest. I wasn’t focusing on the puck — I always look away from the puck — and then I turned back, and he had the puck, and I realized what was happening,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “I grew up watching Guy Lafleur, and that was a little bit of that.”
Laine didn't record a point but he did record five shots on goal.
Canadiens coach not surprised fans have Patrik Laine's back
Although Patrik Laine struggled with the Columbus Blue Jackets, when he is at his best, he is one of the best goal scorers in the NHL.
Laine is completely healthy heading into the 2024-25 NHL season and coach Martin St. Louis is expecting big things from him, as are the fans, which is why the coach wasn't surprised by the reception he got.
“I can understand the excitement they have,” St. Louis said. "You look at his resume, and I know his career was trending like this. I know sometimes you hit some bumps along the way and, for us, we’re trying to get that thing going back up again.
"And I think the fans are definitely behind him right now, and I feel like the respect is always earned and it’s something you have to do each and every day, and I know Patty’s going to try to do that each and every day and we’re going to try to help him so he can get that out of them each and every other day," St. Louis concluded.
Patrik Laine has played in 480 NHL games, tallying 204 goals and 184 assists for a total of 388 points. Montreal opens its 2024-25 NHL season at home on October 9 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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