Patrik Laine's girlfriend expresses her deep emotions following the fans' touching standing ovation

During the Montreal Canadiens' fourth game of the preseason, their forward Patrik Laine had a collision with Toronto Maple Leafs player Cedric Pare that eventually placed him out of commission with an injury to his knee. He went down during the first period of the 2-1 loss for the Canadiens, and immediately, it was guaranteed he would not be available for the home opener. It was disappointing to both Laine and the fans who had been anxiously waiting for the Finnish star they'd just acquired to get into the action.

When the Canadiens again hosted the Maple Leafs this time for their highly anticipated home opener, the team made sure to include every player in the pregame introductions, even those who were sidelined by injury. Among them was Laine, who, although he wasn't able to play, was called to the ice in front of the Bell Centre crowd.

The crowd in Montreal gave him a much-deserved standing ovation from the heart as an introduction. It was deafeningly loud; obviously, the crowd wanted him to know they were in support of him since his injury. Laine genuinely did look touched by the moment while head coach Martin St. Louis put hands on his back in reassurance, a reassuring and touching moment, speaking to the closeness of the atmosphere maintained within the team.

After that emotional moment, Laine's girlfriend Jordan Leigh took to social media to thank the fans for such a warm welcome. She had shared a heartfelt message, thanking supporters of the Canadiens for making Laine feel wanted and loved even on his toughest first night. It was a touching response to what had been a tough start to Laine's journey in Montreal.

Though he will be out for at least the next couple of months while recovering from his knee injury, one thing was certain from the standing ovation: the fans will anxiously await his return. While the Finnish forward's debut in Montreal is on ice, the love he has received both from the team and the city will surely aid him on the road to recovery.