Montreal Canadiens earned victory against Toronto Maple Leafs in their season opening game thanks primarily to Sam Montembeault’s remarkable goaltending performance – an NHL milestone with 48 saves registered – making for an easy 4-0 victory on opening night of this campaign.
Montembeault’s Unforgettable Evening
Sam Montembeault was at the epicenter of all that energy at the Bell Centre during its inaugural game this season and Sam said “Playing my first game at Bell Centre with such an energetic crowd was amazing – feeding off of its energy helped fuel my performance tonight and made for an excellent showing!” It went incredibly smoothly!
The Canadiens got on the scoreboard thanks to Cole Caufield, who scored at 7:48 in the first period. Assists came from Juraj Slafkovsky and Kirby Dach, who together executed a seamless tic-tac-toe play. This goal marked a significant turnaround for the Canadiens, improving from their preseason record of no power-play goals in thirty attempts to scoring on one out of five chances during this game.
Maple Leafs Face Challenges in Scoring
Meanwhile, Toronto’s Anthony Stolarz, stepping in for the expected starter Joseph Woll due to a lower-body concern, saved 26 shots. Coach Craig Berube noted the team’s difficulty in finding the back of the net, despite a high volume of shots, crediting Montembeault’s exceptional performance as a key factor in their struggle.
Critical Moments and Stats
A highlight of the game was a critical save by Montembeault on a one-timer from Auston Matthews, the NHL’s leading goal scorer last season, midway through the second period. Despite their aggressive offensive attempts, including hitting the post three times in the second period, the Maple Leafs failed to capitalize on their power plays.
Cole Caufield has scored in three consecutive season openers against the Maple Leafs and made history on Monday by reaching 150 career points faster than anyone since Saku Koivu during 1997-98 – setting an unprecedented pace at which to reach this landmark for Montreal Canadiens players.
What’s Next
Both teams return to action this Thursday; Canadiens against Boston Bruins while Maple Leafs against their former coach Sheldon Keefe’s New Jersey Devils.