The Habs being capable of icing four legitimate lines with no passengers or non-NHL calibre players allows them to exert their gameplan on their opponent with an unbreakable rhythm. The Canadiens were in the driver's seat to start the game, getting a chance on the powerplay to take an early lead. Even though the powerplay didn't score, it produced a couple of chances by working the puck below the hashmarks and looking for the open man in the slot instead of trying to set up the one-timer from the point.
Alexander Semin would be charged with a slashing penalty to give the Red Wings a chance to score first.