The new guys made a positive impression and a familiar face demonstrated he might be ready to take things to another level with the Montreal Canadiens.
The Canadiens opened their season Thursday night with a 4-1 win in Buffalo against the Sabres, sparked by a pair of goals from Brendan Gallagher. Three players making their Habs debut also factored heavily in the outcome — Shea Weber and Andrew Shaw both got on the scoresheet and backup goaltender Al Montoya stood tall while filling in for an ill Carey Price.
While nobody was going to enter a state of panic had things gone the other way in Game 1, it’s a nice way to kick off some new career chapters.
“You want them to feel comfortable early and whether you admit it or not, when you get that first goal or point or win, it takes a little bit of stress off you,” said captain Max Pacioretty. “I’m glad it came early for those guys. They played great.”
That was especially true of Montoya during a second-period lapse by the Canadiens. Buffalo outshot Montreal 15-7 in the second, pushing back after the Canadiens seized a 2-0 lead.
“He (Montoya) played great,” said Pacioretty. “We left him out to dry a little bit and the (timing) of some of those saves was huge.”
Montoya was signed as a free agent in the hopes he could provide a better safety net than the since-departed Mike Condon did when Price was lost for most of last season with a knee injury. The Habs No. 1 stud is flu-stricken at the moment, which opened the door for Montoya’s memorable debut.
“It’s always sweet to come in and play that first game for your team,” said Montoya, who will also start Saturday in Ottawa. “You just hope to give them a chance and that’s all my plan was.”
While Montoya admitted to having a few butterflies earlier in the day, Weber said nerves never really entered the equation for him. The veteran defenceman drew an assist on Gallagher’s second goal in the third period and also announced his presence physically, slamming Buffalo centre Johan Larsson into the glass for one of the game’s biggest hits.
“I’m here for a long time, so hopefully we can have a lot of success together as a group,” said Weber, acquired in the monster one-for-one trade that sent P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators.
Montreal’s fourth goal came courtesy of Shaw just past the halfway point of the third. The play was a window into why the Habs surrendered two second-round picks to get the former Chicago Blackhawk, as Shaw drove the net hard and whacked a puck past goalie Robin Lehner and just over the goal line.
Gallagher, meanwhile, opened the scoring before the nine-minute mark of the first by using former teammate (and landlord) Josh Gorges as a screen on a low shot that eluded Lehner on the stick side. Gallagher’s second marker represented exactly what the team has come to expect from the buzzsaw of a right winger, who sometimes looks as though he’s magnetically pulled toward the net. In this instance, Gallagher parked himself in front of the goal and got just enough of Weber’s point shot to deflect it home.
“You know game in, game out what you’re going to get from him (Gallagher),” said coach Michel Therrien.
As good as the 24-year-old has been in the past, there’s reason to believe his output is due for an uptick. Before breaking a finger last November, Gallagher was on a 34-goal pace through 22 games. With a couple already in the bag this season, it’s easy to think this could be the start of a special year. His linemate is on board with the notion.
“I think he’s ready to take that next step,” said Pacioretty.
As for the Sabres, they can’t seem to get out from underneath a black cloud. Star centre Jack Eichel sustained a high-ankle sprain in practice on Wednesday that will keep him out of the lineup for at least a month. Also the victim of less-serious injuries that forced them out of the opener were prime free agent signing Kyle Okposo and key blue line acquisition Dmitry Kulikov.
Left winger Evander Kane crashed heavily into the end boards against Montreal, with the primary point of contact being a left shoulder he’s injured in the past. Kane lay writhing on the ice for a few minutes before exiting in obvious pain. Kane was taken to the hospital for evaluation and coach Dan Bylsma was unable to provide a definitive update on Kane’s status except to say, “they’re checking for a lot of things internally.”
Montreal also had a player leave the contest early, but Therrien said fourth-line centre Torrey Mitchell should be fine after it appeared Gorges accidentally caught him with a knee to the head as the former was falling to the ice. That incident — and the ensuing skirmish — was by no means the lone physical confrontation in this affair and Pacioretty liked the way his team responded when challenged in all aspects of the game.
“Guys had the right mentality, sticking up for each other, a lot of selfless plays out there,” he said.
Sounds like the bonding process is well under way for the revamped Habs.
— With files from the Associated Press
