Montreal, QC (SportsNetwork.com) – The Montreal Canadiens overcame playing
without their leading scorer and the loss of their best defenseman to beat the
Ottawa Senators 4-3 in Game 1 of what will surely be an intense and physical
first-round series.
Brian Flynn scored the game-winning goal late in the second period for
Montreal and added two assists in his playoff debut. Carey Price, a Hart and
Vezina Trophy candidate, stopped 30 Ottawa shots.
Max Pacioretty, who led the Canadiens with 37 points and 67 points this
season, didn’t play because of an upper-body injury. P.K. Subban was ejected
midway through the contest for slashing Ottawa’s Mark Stone.
Andrew Hammond, whose 20-1-2 record backed the Sens’ improbable late-season
run to the playoffs, gave up four goals on 39 shots.
Ottawa will look to even this best-of-seven set on Friday.
