MONTREAL (AP) — Sam Montembeault made 48 saves, Cole Caufield scored on a first-period power play and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 1-0 on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams. Caufield scored at 7:48 of the opening period, finishing off a tic-tac-toe play with Juraj Slafkovsky and Kirby Dach. The Canadiens were 1 for 5 on the power play after going 0 for 30 in the preseason.
Anthony Stolarz made 26 saves for Toronto after expected starter Joseph Woll was held out of the lineup. Coach Craig Berube said Woll had “lower-body tightness.” RANGERS 6, PENGUINS 0 PITTSBURGH (AP) — Igor Shesterkin stopped 29 shots and New York opened the season with a victory over Pittsburgh.
Chris Kreider scored twice for the reigning Metropolitan Division champions. Sam Carrick, Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil and Vincent Trocheck also scored for New York, which dominated Pittsburgh while beating the Penguins for the fifth time in their last six meetings. Chytil’s goal was his first in over 18 months after he missed most of last season due to a concussion.
The center’s flick to the far post against Tristan Jarry just before the game’s midway point boosted New York’s lead to 4-0. Jarry stopped 35 of the 41 shots he faced for Pittsburgh. Penguins star Sidney Crosby was held scoreless in his 20th season opener.
Evgeni Malkin was held without a point. The Russian star began his 19th season with 498 career goals and 798 career assists..
