Light It Up

I don't care what team you cheer for, but you had to smile tonight as Patrik Laine skated out for his first game with the bleu-blanc-et-rouge in his first game in what was 11 days short of a full calendar year. The roar of the Montreal faithful with every Laine touch of the puck was enough to know that they appreciate the big Finn's presence in the lineup, and his power-play goal set off a thunderous cheer inside Centre Bell that likely could be heard outside the arena.

Considering everything he's been through in this last year, tonight will likely be a night that Patrik Laine doesn't soon forget after the Canadiens downed the Islanders by a 2-1 overtime score. I know these games are already special when the Islanders visit with Patrick Roy behind the bench, but Montreal fans got to see Laine do what he does best in denting twine and they repaid the effort with an ovation that hasn't been heard for some time in Montreal rinks.

"That was the most outrageous thing I've ever heard in my entire life," he told reporters after the game. "I don't deserve this, not at all. It'll be something, for sure, I'll remember forever. That was the coolest thing I've ever seen. Pretty humbling... and I'm just grateful and just thankful to be here."

Yes, it's exciting to see #92 flying down the wing for the Canadiens again, but let's not forget that this was a man who stepped away from the game for mental health reasons after a rather ugly incident on a Columbus Blue Jackets podcast. For a guy who struggling with injuries and inconsistency during his time in Ohio, that incident marked a low point for fans who made it clear they didn't agree with the podcaster's comments. While the relationship between Columbus and Laine was fractured, it eventually was resolved via a trade to Montreal where a fresh start was promised for Laine. On Tuesday, it seems he got that and more as the fans showered him with praise.

"It's obviously good after a win and, overall, I'm feeling good," Laine stated. "Just being back helps mentally. Just being around everybody and just being able to play here is a blessing, and I'm just super thankful to have this opportunity and I'm just trying to make the most out of it."

He certainly did as he picked up his first goal this season off a feed from Lane Hutson, and he made linemates Kirby Dach and Juraj Slafkovsky look pretty good with their play. With the Islanders focussing on the likes of Suzuki and Caufield on one line while Laine and his linemates were on another, it opened up the game for Montreal's third line of Christian Dvorak, Josh Anderson, and Brendan Gallagher who had a solid night at the office despite not scoring. Three balanced lines was the intention of adding a scorer like Laine, and we saw it for the first time this season as the Canadiens battled hard throughout the sixty minutes and beyond.

Anytime a player has lost the passion for the game, though, makes you wonder if that fire can be re-ignited. Tonight, it seemed like Laine found the spark needed as he was honoured as the first star of the game to another thunderous ovation from the Montreal crowd. It had me wondering if he had set any expectations for the night when it came to how he was going to play.

"I mean, I talked with my therapist about this — that I was a little nervous yesterday," Laine admitted, "and I just decided that putting this jersey on today is an achievement after everything. Everything that comes after that is a plus."

I know fans heap nearly-insurmountable expectations on star players at times, but seeing Laine find his smile again is pure hockey magic. Seeing the crowd support him like they did had to lift a weight off his shoulders when it comes to his own expectations, and scoring that goal to make it 1-0 must have been one of the most memorable goals he scored just because of what it meant in the bigger picture.

It's true for any of us that we need to enjoy what we're doing for it not to feel like work or a chore, and I would guess that hockey players seek that same enjoyment in their work to make it feel less like a grind. And after all the work that Patrik Laine did with his mental health, dealing with injuries, and landing in a new city to get back to a spot where he's smiling and enjoying hockey again is an achievement for which I'll cheer no matter what jersey Laine wears.

Congratulations on a big first game, Patrik Laine. Here's to a big season where you light the lamp again and again while being cheered by all fans because if there's one guy who deserves to find happiness in his work again, it's Patrik Laine in this writer's view.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!