Patrick Lalime, a Canadian goaltender, embarked on his professional hockey journey when he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the sixth round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. His NHL debut came during the 1996-1997 season with the Penguins, where he quickly made a name for himself by setting an NHL record for the longest unbeaten streak to start a career, going 14-0-2. This impressive start laid the foundation for a career that spanned over a decade in the National Hockey League.
Following his initial success with Pittsburgh, Lalime's career took him to the Ottawa Senators, where he became a central figure in the team's goaltending lineup. Joining the Senators in 1999, he played a crucial role in helping the team reach the playoffs in each of his five seasons with them. Lalime's tenure with Ottawa was marked by consistent performances, including a franchise-record 39 wins during the 2002-2003 season. His efforts were instrumental in leading the Senators to the Eastern Conference Finals that same year, although they fell short of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals.
After his time in Ottawa, Lalime signed with the St. Louis Blues for the 2004-2005 season, although the NHL lockout that year delayed his debut with the team. Once play resumed, he struggled to find the same level of success he had enjoyed with the Senators, and his stint with the Blues was relatively short-lived. Lalime then moved on to the Chicago Blackhawks, where he played for two seasons, serving primarily as a backup goaltender.
In 2008, Lalime joined the Buffalo Sabres, where he continued to play a supporting role behind starting goaltender Ryan Miller. During his time with the Sabres, Lalime provided veteran experience and stability, contributing to the team's depth in the goaltending position. His final NHL season was with Buffalo in 2010-2011, after which he announced his retirement from professional hockey.
Throughout his career, Lalime was known for his butterfly style of goaltending, characterized by his quick reflexes and ability to cover the lower part of the net effectively. He played in a total of 444 regular-season NHL games, recording 200 wins, 174 losses, and 32 ties or overtime losses. Lalime also appeared in 41 playoff games, further demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure.
After retiring from playing, Lalime transitioned to a career in broadcasting, providing analysis and commentary for French-language sports networks in Canada. His insights and experience as a former NHL goaltender have made him a respected voice in the hockey community.
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