Montreal Canadiens: Looking Back at the Five Unforgettable Moments From Habs Playoff Run

Paul Byron wins Game 1

The Canadiens entered the playoffs as heavy underdogs against the Toronto Maple Leafs. They stumbled down the stretch of the season and barely limped their way into the postseason thanks to a couple of late season loser points in overtime games against the Edmonton Oilers.

They faced the Toronto Maple Leafs, the top team in the Canadian Division during the regular season. Anyone and everyone was picking the Maple Leafs to win the series and to do so rather quickly.

The Canadiens were going to need a big effort from everyone in the lineup if they were going to have a chance against Toronto. In Game 1 of the series, they got a huge goal from an unlikely source at an unlikely time.

With the Canadiens shorthanded with seven minutes to play in a tie game, Joel Armia forced a turnover just inside the Canadiens defensive zone. He chipped the puck up ice to a streaking Paul Byron who blew past Rasmus Sandin. The Leafs prospect defenceman stretched out and tripped Byron, but he pulled the puck to his forehand anyway and shovelled it over the arm of Jack Campbell in the Leafs goal.

The shorthanded goal proved to be the game winning goal as the Habs took a 1-0 series lead.