The Montreal Canadiens were hoping to channel some 2010 vibes ahead of Game 4 in this year’s Eastern Conference Finals.
With the Habs hosting the Carolina Hurricanes, the club had former star goaltender Jaroslav Halak bring the pregame torch into Bell Centre to pump up the fanbase. Halak not only carried a torch into the building but was also given a stop sign bearing the name of current Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes.
Halak strolled through an entrance aisle before entering the arena and lifting the torch to much fanfare from the roaring, sold-out crowd that once chanted his name.
Halak started his NHL career in Montreal and played four total seasons for the Canadiens from 2006 to 2010. He stamped his name in the club’s record books when he led the eight-seeded Canadiens to the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals, with back-to-back series upsets of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Washington Capitals and defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
During the improbable run, which the Philadelphia Flyers ended in the ECF, Halak went 9-9 with a 2.55 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. According to MoneyPuck, he led all goaltenders that played in that year’s playoffs in goals saved above expected with 8.0, the only netminder who played past the first round to record more than 1.3.
Halak’s best game came against the Capitals in Game 6 of the first round as he made 53 saves in a 4-1 victory for the Habs. Eight of those 53 shots came off the stick of Caps captain Alex Ovechkin, and he was held off the scoresheet altogether. No Canadiens goaltender has made more saves in a non-overtime playoff game, which led to Habs fans celebrating Halak with the same stop signs now made for Dobes.
Dobes, coming off a rookie season that saw him finish fourth in Calder Trophy voting for Rookie of the Year, came into Wednesday’s game with a 9-4-4 playoff record, a 2.50 goals-against average, and a .911 save percentage. Just like Halak in 2010, he is the current leader in goals saved above expected (12.7).
Unfortunately, Halak’s presence didn’t help Dobes or the Canadiens whatsoever in the first period. The Hurricanes dominated play, scoring three goals on 13 shots in the first frame. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis did not pull Dobes, keeping him in after the three straight goals allowed.
