After watching their favorites by dominated by the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night, the Montreal Canadiens’ fans who were in attendance didn’t rush for the exit before the end. No, they stayed in their seats and when the final buzzer went, they gave Marc-Andre Fleury the send off he deserved.
The netminder never played for the Canadiens, but the Bell Centre crowd recognize game. Fleury has had a spectacular career, so far he has 572 wins, three Stanley Cups, five All-Star games, one Jennings Trophy and one Vezina Trophy. On the international scene, he won gold with Canada at the 2010 Olympics and Silver at two World Junior Championship.
Sure, the Bell Centre crowd acclaimed Fleury partly because he’s “un p’tit gars de chez nous”, but this is the same crowd that cheered Zdeno Chara for his 1,500 games played during the 2019-20 season after booing him mercilessly for nine years because of his dangerous hit on Max Pacioretty. Why? Because these are knowledgeable fans who can recognize game.
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The fact the fans showered Flower with cheers at the end of the game certainly played a role in the Canadiens waiting for him at centre ice with Mike Matheson and David Savard leading the way to congratulate him on a great career, the fans and media loved it.
Earlier this week, we had another demonstration of just how good a collective memory the Canadiens’ fans have. Every time Mark Scheifele touched the puck, he received the Chara treatment. Why? Because his hit to the head of Jake Evans during the 2021 playoffs was as unforgettable as it was unforgivable.
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Say what you will about the pressure that comes with playing in Montreal, but never forget the passion for the sport because that’s just as important if not more. The Montreal crowd lives and breathes hockey making the town a very special place to play in. I don’t think I even need to mention Maurice “Rocket” Richard tears’ as the fans gave him a record breaking ovation or Saku Koivu’s return from cancer to prove my point, do I?
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