As the TSN commentators said, the only similarity between last night’s game and Monday’s matchup was the logos. Both teams iced what are — with a few exceptions — likely to be their opening-night lineups.
The first couple of shifts went about as well as could be expected for the Montreal Canadiens, with Noah Juulsen and Victor Mete backing the opening trio of Tomas Tatar, Phillip Danault, and Brendan Gallagher. The Habs got the first power play about three minutes in, and after some strong cycling in the offensive zone, a crafty shot by Tatar put the Habs up 1-0.