History Repeats Itself
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Last evening the Montreal Canadiens visited the Mellon Arena to face the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was only the third game of the season for the Flightless Ones who had lost to Carolina and won against Anaheim so far in the 2007-08 season. The Canadiens were also playing their third game of the season so far the Habs had posted a win against Carolina and an overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. So an early season match up between two teams in the Eastern Conference may not be the stuff that makes for memories but last night was a bit different.
The starting goaltender for Montreal was a young man named Carey Price. The Vancouver native was the Canadiens first round pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft from the Tri-City Americans. Last night was his debut for Le Bleu, Blanc et Rouge. Price does have a pedigree he was named Tournament MVP at the 2007 IIHF World Junior (U20) Ice Hockey Championship in Sweden as Canada won the Gold Medal. But all that being said what made last night special is the fact that he was making his debut exactly 22 years to the day that goaltending legend Patrick Roy made his debut, playing for the Canadiens, also against the Pittsburgh Penguins. If that was not enough of the weight of history on the young goalie it should also be noted that Hockey Hall of Famer and former Canadien goalie Ken Dryden also made his debut against the Penguins. So with all of that Canadiens mystique flowing last evening it was a little less painful to watch as the Canadiens defeated the Penguins 3-2. Oh, both Roy and Dryden also beat the Penguins in their debuts as well, the wheel of life turns again.
