A new locker room, a new sweater, a first game
Five shots on target. Sixteen minutes and 48 seconds on the ice. Patrik Laine did not waste time making his presence felt.
Preseason feel at the Bell Centre on Wednesday night. Montreal hosted Philadelphia. Final score: 5-0. A clean win, an easy one really. But all eyes were on the new arrival.
Laine, 26, has come over from Columbus. The deal was completed on 19 August. Taken second overall in the 2016 draft by the Winnipeg Jets, the Finnish winger is already with his third NHL team. Another fresh start for a player whose talent has never been in doubt, but whose career has been stop-start at best.
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A defence that held, goals that kept coming
Emil Heineman scored. So did Alex Barre-Boulet, and both added an assist for good measure. Kirby Dach logged 16 minutes in his return from a torn ACL and MCL suffered in October 2023. Another comeback, low-key and barely noticed with Laine hogging the spotlight.
Cayden Primeau kept the net clean in the first period with 13 saves. Jakub Dobes took over and stopped 12 more. At the other end, Eetu Makiniemi gave up one goal on 14 shots before making way for Cal Petersen, who was beaten four times on 12 attempts.
It was only preseason. Still, the message was clear
A preseason game changes nothing in the standings. No one will remember it in six months. Unless Laine delivers. Montreal needs him. The Canadiens need a finisher who can turn five shots into goals, not just promising starts.
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