1. Samuel Montembeault, obviously
The Toronto Maple Leafs aren't easy to keep off the scoresheet. They hadn't been shut out since November 20, 2021, 252 games ago. It was the third-longest streak behind the 1980s Los Angeles Kings and 1970s Chicago Blackhawks.
The Maple Leafs fired shots at Samuel Montembeault from every angle and ended the night with 48 shots. It was the most saves in a season-opening shutout in NHL history. It was also the first shutout for Montembeault since the 2021-22 season.
The result on Thursday night shows the beauty of sports. Most people expected the high-powered Leafs to put on an offensive clinic and the question was whether the Habs had enough depth to keep pace. The opposite was true, which shows why sports are the greatest form of entertainment.
The shutout on Thursday night means much more than just a season-opening win over the Maple Leafs. Montembeault is one of the players whose October and November will be integral in earning a spot on Canada's Four Nations Faceoff roster. With a performance like this on the country's biggest night, he has to be the front-runner to steal a goaltending spot.