Familiar Face Behind The Mask

I was prepared to focus the Pens/Sabres preview article on Ryan Miller, Buffalo’s starting goalie and perhaps the USA top netminder in the 2010 Olympics, but in last night’s broadcast Steiggy said that Patrick Lalime will be between the posts when Pittsburgh visits HSBC Arena Saturday night.

Buffalo suits up at home tonight against Toronto before hosting the red-hot Pens tomorrow night. In the second of back-to-back contests and the fourth game of the week, it seems plausible that Lalime will be facing Crosby, Malkin, at the rest of the stars.  In fact, earlier this week, Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff inferred that Lalime will start both weekend contests.

Remember me?

With that in mind let’s switch gears and stroll back through time…back to 1996-97 when Patrick Lalime was guarding the goal crease in Pittsburgh, earning his first-ever NHL duty after toiling in the minors for six years.

The St. Bonaventure, Quebec native was chosen by Craig Patrick in the 6^th round (156^th overall) of the 1993 draft.  After playing in Abitibi, Valleyfield, Shawinigan, and Cleveland, he finally got his break in ’96, and he took advantage.

In 39 games with the big club that year, Lalime went 21-12-2 and posted three shutouts.  While allowing 101 goals, he carried a respectable .913 save percentage and 2.95 goals against average.  It wasn’t his final numbers that opened eyes, but the NHL record longest unbeaten streak to begin a career that thrust Lalime into the national spotlight.  After allowing three goals in his debut, a relief effort of Ken Wregget, Lalime went 14-0-2 in a remarkable run as a starter.

Lalime cooled the rest of the season and eventually yielded the starting spot back to Wregget who played every minute of the Pens’ five playoff games that season.  The next year, Lalime and the Pens could not agree on a contract so he spent the season in the IHL.  On March 24, 1998, Lalime was traded out of Pittsburgh, headed to Anaheim for Sean Pronger, brother of Chris Pronger, whose assist on Sidney Crosby’s power-play goal helped the Pens earn two points in Philly last night.

After never breaking into the line-up with Anaheim, Lalime moved to Ottawa where he served as their starting goalie throughout the early 2000s before spending time with St. Louis and Chicago in the middle of the decade. 

Last year was Lalime’s first in Buffalo.  He recorded an inauspicious 5-13 record, but found a niche as Miller’s back-up.  The former Penguin rookie phenom has only seen action in four games this winter, earning a 1-2 record and a dismal .888 save percentage.  His 3.51 GAA should make Sabre fans shutter when facing a potent offense like the Penguins.

Lace ‘em up: One of my brothers and some friends are making a Canada trek this weekend, but before they cross the border they will attend Saturday night’s tilt.  Through the beauty of technology, I’m hoping to have some in-house pictures from the lad to post on Pens Labyrinth … Seven Sabres had food poisoning earlier this week when Buffalo was shutout 2-0 by Ottawa … Pens Labyrinth will address Ryan Miller and the USA goalie mix, as well as several other Olympic participants, at a later date in our continuing coverage of next year’s marquee event … Don’t miss last night’s goal by Detroit’s Drew Miller.