It has been 113 days since there has been meaningful NHL hockey. That brings us all the way back to the Chicago Blackhawks victory in game six of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning. But NHL hockey is officially back as the Montreal Canadiens traveled to Toronto to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs as they were the first to drop the puck on the 2015-2016 NHL season.

The season was not underway for too long before the first goal of the season was scored, and that was by Max Pacioretty who would tinkle the twine behind the back of Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier. He was assisted on the goal by P.K. Subban. It only took three minutes and nine seconds for the Canadiens to get on the board. Then there would be a tie for the first penalty of the 2015-2016 season as at the 5:11 mark in the opening period both Leo Komarov and Devante Smith-Pelly would get two minute minors. Komarov got his for boarding Subban, and Smith-Pelly got his in revenge mode as he roughed Komarov. Nazem Kadri also had a penalty for the Maple Leafs in the opening period which was rather quiet as Carey Price was keeping the Maple Leafs off the board through one.

But the second period would quickly get things changed. Brendan Gallagher was called for a penalty on interfering with Bernier just 13 seconds into the period, and then only six seconds later James van Riemsdyk took the puck from Kadri and Dion Phaneuf to get the first goal of the season for the Maple Leafs. The power play goal was huge as that would be the only goal that the Maple Leafs would get on the evening, as Price was given credit for 36 saves and got a rather beautiful 97.3% save percentage. Lars Eller would get called for a tripping penalty later in the second period for the Canadiens, but the Maple Leafs would not take advantage of that power play as the game stayed tied 1-1 heading into the final period.

The final period would take some time as both teams didn't want to give anything up, but with just under eight minutes left to play in the contest, Alex Galchenyuk would get the game winning goal after getting assists from Andrei Markov and Subban. The Maple Leafs would try to get things going later in the period, and they made the right call when down one by pulling Bernier out of the goal, but Pacioretty would get his second goal of the night courtesy of the empty net variety, and he was assisted by Subban and Brian Flynn with just 31 seconds left in the game. Subban was impressive as he assisted on every Canadiens goal scored in the game.

Next up the Montreal Canadiens (1-0, 2 points) will travel to TD Garden to take on the Boston Bruins (0-0, 0 points) on Saturday, October 10. Meanwhile the Toronto Maple Leafs (0-1, 0 points) will be seeking their opening win of the season on the road now as they travel to Joe Louis Arena to take on the Detroit Red Wings (0-0, 0 points).

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Caleb Wahlgren
I will not deny that I am a big fan of the Green Bay Packers. But I love the NFL and want to see the very best for it.