The way was not perfect, but the Canadiens started their campaign on the right foot thanks to an exceptional performance from their goalie Samuel Montembeault.

Cole Caufield scored on the power play in the first period, then the Montreal team defended well for the rest of the game to finally win 1-0 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Wednesday night at the Bell Centre.

Montembeault was perfect against the Maple Leafs’ 48 shots and recorded his second career shutout. He also got lucky a few times, as the visitors hit the posts around him three times in the second period.

The Bécancour native admitted he was nervous before the game. He quickly chased away the butterflies and had what he acknowledged was possibly his best game of his NHL career.

“I felt great. This morning, training went well. I was looking forward to this game,” Montembeault said. “During camp, it got better and better every day. I was ready for this game.”
Montembeault had to make a final save at the end of the game at the expense of sniper Auston Matthews.

“It happened quickly. I tried to come out and cover my angles, to be as big as possible,” Montembeault said. “The puck hit me in the middle. So I was in the right place.”

The Canadiens had only two shutouts last season – both with Cayden Primeau in goal. The first came in his 53rd game .

He also ended a five-game losing streak against the Maple Leafs (0-4-1).

The Canadiens (1-0-0) had scored no goals in 30 power-play opportunities during the preseason. They were 1-for-5 on Wednesday night.

“Was it our best game? No, but we played a pretty good game,” said Canadiens head coach Martin St-Louis. “When you think that [the Maple Leafs] were taking more risks because they were behind in the score and they have a dangerous attack. We folded without breaking. I’m proud of the guys.”

Anthony Stolarz made 26 saves in net for the Maple Leafs (0-1-0). Maple Leafs No. 1 goalie Joseph Woll was not in uniform. He is bothered by lower-body stiffness.

The Canadiens will be back in action on Thursday night, when they visit the Boston Bruins.

“It certainly gives us confidence going into tomorrow,” said Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki.

A good suspense
After a presentation of the players to the traditional Fix You by Coldplay, but this time performed in particular by members of the Orchestre métropolitain de Montréal, the Canadian quickly threatened a beastly punishment against Max Domi.

Suzuki took a dangerous one-timer, but Stolarz made the save.

It was during their second power play that the Habs opened the scoring at 7:48. After two great chances by Alex Newhook, the first unit scored. Caufield completed a nice passing play started by Kirby Dach and Juraj Slafkovsky.

Dach collected his 100th career NHL point during the streak.

Montembeault made his mark late in the period. He conceded a rebound in the slot on a seemingly harmless shot by Ryan Reaves and he was alert to stop Steven Lorentz’s shot.

The Maple Leafs were more threatening in the second period, holding a 13-6 advantage in shots on goal, not counting shots from William Nylander, Matthews and Oliver Ekman-Larsson that hit the posts around Montembeault.

The Habs goalie was particularly agile at the expense of Matthews and Ekman-Larsson.

At the other end of the ice, Stolarz made his best save at the expense of Christian Dvorak, who had broken away behind the blue defenders.

The Maple Leafs bottled up the Canadiens in their own territory early in the third period, but they were unable to generate any real quality chances.

The Habs then had a few chances to extend the lead. Newhook was notably frustrated by Stolarz, when he found himself alone in front of the Leafs goalie.

The Maple Leafs tried everything late in the game, replacing Stolarz with an extra attacker. However, Montembeault closed the door.