A FAN’S NOTES

Ken Dryden 1947 - 2025

There’s a photograph that says everything to me about how good the Montreal Canadiens were in the 70s and how good their netminder knew his team was. It’s an iconic shot in its way, as evocative as “The Flying Bobby Orr” or bloodied (and surely concussed) Rocket Richard shaking hands with the enemy, Boston keeper Sugar Jim Henry.

This photograph was snapped at the Forum in the mid-seventies. It’s taken from the corner, the Canadiens’ end. The perspective is elevated, maybe ten rows up, not a bird’s eye view. Goalie Ken Dryden was a tall man. In this shot he is standing upright in front of his net. But not the pose we’re all familiar with; that one.

Directly behind the net is Buffalo’s Rick Martin in full flight. Martin was one third of the Sabres’ lethal French Connection line (Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert), a habitual 40-goal scorer.

Canadiens’ senior Big Three defenceman Serge Savard (Guy Lapointe, Larry Robinson) is in the foreground. He’s the puck carrier pursued by Martin, but he’s two strides ahead of the Sabre. Savard is parallel with the goal line, just a few feet away from Dryden but already looking up ice. There will be a breakout pass or a 200-foot rush. Whatever Savard’s decision it will be the right one. It will not go wrong. Play will move into Buffalo’s zone. Fast.

Dryden’s trapper arm is resting on the crossbar. The net is a living room mantel and he’s at a cocktail party, just taking it in, checking it out. The living room carpet will need vacuuming tomorrow. He’s not even hugging the short side, leaning up against the post. In an immediate, uncaptured future moment he will clean house, use the blade of his paddle to dust the ice chips and snow from his crease.

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