Montreal Canadiens Last Game Filled With Incredible Number of Firsts

The Montreal Canadiens fate was sealed very early in the 2021-22 season, but they just finished their regular season on Friday night.

It was the first time the team played a full 82 game schedule since the 2018-19 campaign, and it did not go well. They finished last in the standings with just 55 points, a number so small they actually had more points in a 56 game season a year ago.

It was at times an ugly season for the Habs, but their last game of the season was a nice sendoff for the fans who stuck around to watch this team all season.

Though it was the 82nd and final game of the season, there were an incredible number of firsts that occurred. The Canadiens were locked into last place in the NHL standings heading into the game and were taking on the Florida Panthers who had already clinched the President’s Trophy. The Panthers chose to sit most of their impact players, and the Canadiens took advantage.

Early in the first period, Jordan Harris snapped a quick a one-timer that snuck past Jonas Johansson on the short side to give the Canadiens a 1-0 lead. The 21 year old was playing in his 10th game of the season after a successful college career with the Northeastern Huskies.

It was the first goal of Harris NHL career.

It wasn’t long after Harris goal that Cole Caufield scored off the rush and the game was 3-0 before fans had a chance to sit in their seats. Caufield would score again in the second period, and then in the third he gathered a puck in his skates and moved it up to his stick before firing it home for this third goal of the night.

It was the first hat trick of Cole Caufield’s NHL career.

Shortly after Caufield made it 9-2 in the third period, there was a face-off in the Panthers zone. Ryan Poehling kind of scrambled the draw before the puck squirted loose to Tyler Pitlick. The veteran winger pulled the puck to the middle of the ice and sent a wrist shot into the back of the net.

It was Tyler Pitlick’s first goal of the season.

There wasn’t much doubt after about 20 minutes, but the Canadiens continued to pile on the goals and won this game handily 10-2. Carey Price was pretty busy in his goal, turning aside 37 shots, including robbing his old buddy Ben Chiarot on a couple of occasions. He allowed just two goals on 39 shots in a lopsided Habs victory.

It was the first win of the season for Carey Price.

It may have been the last game of a very long season for the Montreal Canadiens. But there were an incredible number of firsts that took place in Game 82.

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