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ESPNTheMag.Com Presents: All-World Power Rankings

by Ted Bauer

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"Important things happen here."

FOR BIGGEST EVENT IN BELL CENTRE HISTORY, WE'LL STILL TAKE THE FIRST-EVER GAME

[Ed's note: Not sure what All-World Power Rankings is? Please click here.]

For those who think ESPN doesn't love hockey: our current cover boy is Montreal Canadiens G Carey Price, which is double timely (love making up expressions) because the NHL All-Star Game is this weekend at the Bell Centre in Montreal. We were in Montreal for NYE, and mark our words, they love hockey up there. (It's also very hard to find places televising the Rose Bowl.) It's the Canadiens' 100th season this year, but Bell Centre has only been around since March of '96. What are the biggest events to ever go down there?

TOP 5
RANK (YESTERDAY) WHAT WHY
1 (14) MARCH 1996: THE FIRST GAME The Canadiens beat the Rangers 4-2. Here's some video. Interesting sidebar: did you know that construction on the Bell Centre began the day after Montreal won their last Stanley Cup? Is the joint cursed?
2 (410) CELINE'S SELLOUTS You gotta have Celine Dion high on any Montreal list. Her concerts for August 15 and 16, 2008 sold out in six minutes. They add new shows, and ultimately, she sold out 11 dates in less than one hour. Jeez. Should be noted she's played the Bell Centre roughly 30 times. Here's video of one such performance.
3 (21) UFC 83 First UFC event in Canada and a more than five million gate? Indeed. (Here's some "vid.")
4 (127) THE MONTREAL SCREWJOB If you're a wrestling fan, this thing was kind of a huge deal.
5 (899) GAME 7 WIN OVER THE BRUINS LAST YEAR Canadiens looked good going into last year's playoffs. While they'd lose in the second round, they hung a nice 5-0 win at home on the Bruins to end Round 1. Exciting stuff.

HONORABLE MENTION
RANK (YESTERDAY) WHAT WHY
18 (144) 1996 WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY (FINAL 2 GAMES) Also a big deal. Mike Richter was a beast for the US in this thing.
28 (701) 3OT GAME VS. THE DEVILS IN 1997 Canadiens lost the series 4-1, but Game 4 was epic. You can find a video recap here.

RISING AND FALLING
MOVEMENT WHAT
2009 NHL ENTRY DRAFT (New talent everywhere.)
LOSING THE SERIES TO THE FLYERS LAST YEAR (You can't lose a series at home!)


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