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After what seemed like a never-ending wait, the Canadiens were finally playing their home opener against the Flames tonight and they didn’t fail to impress. From the opening ceremonies to the power play efficiency and the polished play of the youngsters, this team is a real crowd pleaser. There was no torch for the home opener tonight, there was no need to honour the past, the Canadiens chose to honour the present and its heroes. They played their season trailer featuring frontline workers to the tune of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Mama I’m Coming Home…, showing pictures of what we’ve been true since March and highlights from the bubble…The tone was set right there, I had chills. Then, the usual players’ introduction were done by video, each player’s name being called by frontline workers who all looked so pleased to be there.
Tyler Toffoli ne marque pas qu'à Vancouver. 🙃
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 29, 2021
Tyler Toffoli doesn't only score goals in Vancouver.#GoHabsGo | #BellCause pic.twitter.com/MBlME0hFen
This win was largely on the team’s young players, Jonathan Drouin got the first star (2 assist), Kotkaniemi the second (2 assists) and Nick Suzuki the third (1 assist). Kotkaniemi was involved at both ends of the ice and played smart. He now knows when to dish out hits, won 67% of his face-offs and on a 2 on 1 with Josh Anderson, he took a smart shot to get a rebound which Josh Anderson batted in à la Cammalleri.
Josh Anderson devait jouer au baseball dans une autre vie. âš¾
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 29, 2021
Josh Anderson must have been a baseball player in another life.#GoHabsGo | #BellCause pic.twitter.com/AIet6kS1xy
If there is one downside to this match, it’s the fact that Carey Price was a minutes and 18 seconds away from a shutout when a defensive lapse resulted in the Flames’ first goal. The Habs challenged it for offside, but the call stood and the Flames scored on the resulting delay of game power play. At the end of the match, Matthew Tkachuk and Milan Lucic were setting the table for Saturday night’s game and make no mistake, it will be harder. The Flames biggest free agent signing of the off-season Jacob Markstrom will no doubt be in net and he’ll be harder to beat than back-up goalie David Rittich.
Qui d'autre que Gally pour marquer notre premier but à domicile de la saison?
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 29, 2021
Who else but Gally to score our first home goal of the season?#GoHabsGo | #BellCause pic.twitter.com/KiRKy8fveh