The first game of the season is officially in the books, and some key moments stood out in this opening matchup against the Leafs that the Montreal Canadiens can use to build on.
It had been just about six months since the Canadiens had last taken the ice for a regular season game, and with a roster full of promising young prospects, the excitement level for the start of the season was almost palpable. The Habs and Leafs certainly did not disappoint, delivering plenty of entertainment.
What began in the early minute of the game with an slick goal by Jake Evans, ultimately ended in a 6-5 victory for the home team in a shootout. But despite leaving Toronto with only a single point Wednesday night, there were plenty of positive moments for Montreal to build on.
Whether it was Alex Newhook's impressive first regular season performance with his new team, the impact of the fourth line, Arber Xhekaj's tilt with Ryan Reaves, or the first three-on-three overtime of the year, there was plenty to unpack. Sure, there's a long road of improvements ahead and plenty of work to do, but the first game was an encouraging start.
You likely watched the video excerpt at the top of this article, and if you want to hear the REST of my analysis, simply click the following link to watch this week's episode of Habs Hockey Report on YouTube: Wow! FIVE MAJOR Takeaways: Game 1 Habs vs Leafs
Be sure to bookmark THN.com/Montreal for year-round coverage of the Montreal Canadiens, Laval Rocket, and Habs prospects playing in leagues around the world.
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