The start of Game 1 for the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Final could be described as incredible but also historic.
After giving up a goal in the first 35 seconds of the game, they responded with four goals before the period was over. It would be Mr. Saturday Night, Cole Caufield, scoring the tying goal around 30 seconds after the Hurricanes' goal, followed by Phillip Danault, Alexandre Texier, and Ivan Demidov to give the Canadiens the 4-1 lead.
This was the first time since 1985 that the Canadiens have scored four goals in the first period of a road playoff game, according to Sportsnet Stats.
That game was against the Boston Bruins in the Adams Division Semifinals, and the surprising fact from that game was that Montreal would end up losing it by a final score of 7-6. They would have a 4-1 lead at the end of the first period, but the Bruins responded with five goals in the second period, and it would be tied at six at the end of the second period before the Bruins scored the game-winner in the third period.
Canadiens defense in the third period ensured history didn't repeat itself
Entering the third period, the game was still in reach for the Hurricanes, but the Canadiens' defense ensured that they wouldn't get any closer than 4-2. While Juraj Slafkovsky had two goals, the defense and the Canadiens' ability to limit the Hurricanes' chances were a driving force behind the win.
In the third period, the Hurricanes had only two shots in the entire period, and their first shot came with just over five minutes left in the period. At this point, the score was already 5-2, and the game was pretty much decided.
The Canadiens did a great job getting in shooting lanes and blocking shots as they finished with 30 blocked shots in Game 1, with Lane Hutson leading the way with five in the game.
It was a historic start for the playoff game but this is a game fans will remember more fondly with the way their defense closed it out.
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