The Montreal Canadiens did their best to play the role of spoilers in the return of hockey to Winnipeg, beating the Jets 5-1 to give the team their first ever loss.
A sold-out crowd of 15,004 at the MTS Centre watched as Carey Price was sharp in net and stopped 30 shots to pick up his first win of the season and earn second star of the game honours. Tomas Plekanec led the way for the Habs with a goal and two assists and was named first star.
It did not take long for the first regular season goal to be scored at the MTS Centre. Unfortunately for the Jets it was by Mike Cammalleri.
Off a bad giveaway by Winnipeg defenceman Johnny Oduya, the Habs' sniper skated in and ripped the puck past Ondrej Pavelec from the right face-off circle. The goal was Cammalleri's first of the season and came at just the 3:07 mark.
Already plagued with several injuries, and having lost Jaroslav Spacek to an upper-body injury earlier in the period, there was a scary moment for Montreal late in the first with just 4:01 left to go.
With the Habs playing the puck in their own zone, a falling Cammalleri appeared to be cut above the left knee by the blade of his teammate Yannick Weber's skate. Cammalleri hobbled over to the bench and eventually the Montreal trainer opened the bench door to get the attention of the referee to stop play. Cammalleri was helped off the ice and down the tunnel and reportedly onto an ambulance.
In the first intermission, the Canadiens released a statement saying that Spacek and Cammalleri's injuries were not serious, but both would miss the remainder of the game.
Montreal extended their lead to two in the second period thanks to another bad defensive play by Oduya.
Plekanec stickhandled around the Jets' defenceman and roofed the puck over Pavelec to give Montreal the 2-0 lead. The assists went to Yannick Weber and Travis Moen on the goal scored at the 14:17 mark.
The moment everyone had been waiting for finally occurred in the third period. The answer to a future trivia question will be Nik Antropov, as it was the former Leaf who scored the Jets' first goal.
Off a point shot from Mark Stuart, a battle ensued in front of the Habs net, with Antropov putting home the rebound while being brought down to the ice. Alex Burmistrov was credited with the secondary assist on the goal which came at the 2:27 mark of the period.
Montreal answered back with a Yannick Weber power play goal thanks to a questionable interference call on Dustin Byfuglien.
With a 4-on-3 man advantage for the Habs, Plekanec fed Weber in the face-off circle as he ripped home a one-timer to extend the Canadiens' lead to two. Plekanec's assist was his second point of the night, while David Desharnais was credited with the additional assist for his first point of the season.
The Habs added to their lead with two goals in just over two minutes. Travis Moen skated in over the blue line, made his way through Jets defenders Stuart and Zach Bogosian, and slid the puck through the five hole of Pavelec for his first of the season.
Montreal jumped ahead to a 5-1 lead only 2:01 later when Max Pacioretty fired a quick shot off the post and into the back of the net. The goal was Pacioretty's first since missing the remainder of last season after being driven into the stanchion by Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. The lone assist on Pacioretty's goal went to defenceman Josh Gorges.
Even though the Jets were down 5-1 with a minute remaining in regulation, the fans at MTS Centre got on their feet and gave a standing ovation to their Jets in their return home. A classy move by a fan base that has supported the team since day one when it was announced that hockey was returning to Winnipeg.
The Jets are back in action on Thursday when they continue the quest for their first win in Chicago against Jonathan Toews and the Blackhawks.
Canadiens vs. Jets Stats Recap
Shots
MTL: 22
WPG: 31
Shot Leaders
MTL: Darche, Moen and Weber tied (3)
WPG: Byfuglien and Kane tied (4)
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