For the first time since March 10, 2020, hockey was played at the Bell Centre on Thursday night as the Montreal Canadiens took on the Calgary Flames for the 2020-21 home opener. The Canadiens, who were coming off their 4-0-2 season-opening road trip, were welcomed home and introduced by frontline workers during the pre-game ceremony, then went on to defeat the Flames in a 4-2 special teams victory.
It was only fitting that the first goal scored on home ice in 324 days went to Brendan Gallagher, who buried a beautiful no-look pass from Corey Perry about halfway through the opening frame.