Montembeault posts 47-save shutout, Canadiens blank Maple Leafs 1-0 in season-opener
Sam Montembeault made 47 saves, Cole Caufield scored the game-winning goal and the Montreal Canadiens opened the NHL season with a 1-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday at the Bell Centre.
Caufield scored a power-play goal at 7:48 of the first period, finishing off a perfectly executed tic-tac-toe play with Juraj Slafkovsky and Kirby Dach. The Canadiens’ power play went 1-for-5 on the night after going 0-for-30 during the pre-season.
Toronto pulled goalie Anthony Stolarz with two minutes remaining, but to no avail as Caufield’s goal hung on as the winner. Stolarz stopped 26 shots for the Maple Leafs after presumed starter Joseph Woll was surprisingly kept out of the lineup with “lower-body tightness,” head coach Craig Berube said.
Takeaways
Canadiens: Montembeault's 47 saves was an NHL record for a season-opening shutout. He became the seventh Canadiens goaltender to post a shutout in a season-opening game. Jacques Plante was the only other to do it against the Maple Leafs (Oct. 6, 1960, Oct. 6, 1955).
Maple Leafs: Toronto had trouble staying out of the penalty box with five minor penalties in the first 40 minutes. The Maple Leafs also went 0-for-4 on the power play and hit three posts in the second period.
Key moment
Midway through the second period, Montembeault flashed the leather with a glove save on a one-timer from the slot by Maple Leafs sniper Auston Matthews, who scored an NHL-leading 69 goals last season. Montembeault's 47th save of the night was on another Matthews chance from the slot with the clock winding down.
Key stat
Caufield scored a goal in the Canadiens’ season-opener against the Maple Leafs for the third straight season. The 23-year-old American also recorded his 150th career point in his 206th game, becoming the fastest Canadien to reach that mark since Saku Koivu in 1997-98.
Up next
Both teams play their second game in as many days Thursday. The Canadiens travel to Boston to take on the Bruins. The Maple Leafs visit former Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe and the New Jersey Devils.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Forecasters issue 'bomb cyclone' warning for B.C., with 120 km/h winds predicted
An Environment Canada meteorologist says a so-called "bomb cyclone" is expected to bring powerful winds to Vancouver Island and the British Columbia coast this week.
Canada's rising youth unemployment could cost the country billions, report says
The unemployment rate for Canadians between 18 and 24 was 12.8 per cent in October, according to Statistics Canada, more than double the rate of those older than 25.
Tories call on Boissonnault to resign amid apology over Indigenous ancestry claims
Members of Parliament returned to Ottawa on Monday after a weeklong break with no sign of a resolution to the House stalemate, tempers ramped back up, and renewed calls for a Liberal cabinet minister to resign — or be fired.
B.C. RCMP detachment refutes social media claims of human trafficking, kidnapping
Mounties in B.C.'s Sea to Sky region say there is "no credible evidence" to support claims circulating on social media that a human trafficking ring is operating in Squamish or that there have been kidnappings in the community.
Men from Ontario, B.C. charged in 'mistaken identity' shooting, RCMP say
Two men from Ontario and British Columbia have been charged in connection with a 2022 shooting that left an innocent victim seriously wounded.
NHL referee Mitch Dunning communicative, can move extremities following violent collision
NHL referee Mitch Dunning is fully communicative and can move all his extremities following a violent collision with Colorado defenseman Josh Manson in Monday night's game at Philadelphia.
Some Canada-U.S. border crossing times will change in 2025. Here's what you need to know
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says it will adjust the opening hours of crossing points across the country early next year.
Thief steals disabled 15-year-old dog's wheelchair
Caring for a senior pet is no walk in the park, especially when the pet can't walk at all. A Colorado woman was shocked to find her dog's wheelchair missing from the porch Tuesday morning
Parts of Canada will see up to 30 centimetres of snow. Here's where
Canadians are bracing for a chilly start to the week as snowfall and other wintry conditions are expected to make landfall across western and eastern provinces.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Montreal
-
Group to file lawsuit over lack of consultation on bike paths
A group of frustrated citizens is taking the City of Montreal to court over what they say is a lack of consultation regarding bike paths.
-
Eviction notices distributed in homeless encampment on Notre-Dame Street
Members of a homeless encampment on Notre-Dame Street in Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve have been given eviction notices by the Quebec government.
-
Advocates highlight growing inequalities during Early Childhood Week
Early Childhood Week is underway, and advocates say governments need to do more to address the issue of inequality.
Ottawa
-
Synthetic skating rink to be built in ByWard Market this week
Winter sport enthusiasts will have a new place to go ice skating in Ottawa this winter.
-
Sutcliffe 'working on a solution' to address blowback to proposed seniors transit fare hike
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe is acknowledging negative feedback from the community regarding possible increases to transit fares for seniors and hinting the city could back down from the proposal.
-
Inquest into the 2016 death of Abdirahman Abdi in Ottawa begins today
An inquest begins today into the 2016 death of Abdirahman Abdi, who died after an altercation with Ottawa police officers in 2016. The inquest is scheduled for 21 days, and will hear from approximately 25 witnesses.
Northern Ontario
-
Timmins police chief concerned about shoplifting, general 'lawlessness'
Timmins Police Chief Sydney Lecky is meeting with members of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce next month and one of the main topics will be the rise in shoplifting.
-
North Bay to move ahead with $63M arena
By a vote of 10-1 Monday at a special meeting, city council in North Bay voted to build a new arena with a maximum budget of $62.5 million.
-
School, daycare lockdown end in Kapuskasing, barricaded person taken into custody
A Kapuskasing school and childcare centre lockdown ended Monday afternoon. And by Monday evening, a barricaded person had been taken into custody.
Kitchener
-
'It's overkill': Dozens of councillors speak up against use of notwithstanding clause to deal with encampments
A group of municipal and regional councillors in Ontario have come together to speak out against the potential use of the Notwithstanding Clause to deal with encampments.
-
Reaction to province's bill to ban CTS sites near schools and daycares
A bill was tabled Monday to shutdown 10 supervised consumption sites, including the ones in Kitchener and Guelph, that the province says are too close to local schools and daycares.
-
Arrest made after phone and internet lines cut to at least 18 Guelph businesses
A Guelph man has been charged after phone and internet cables for at least 18 Guelph businesses were cut last week.
London
-
Map of possible Service Depots for homeless encampments gets pushback from east London councillor
Selecting new locations for Service Depots that offer basic needs to homeless encampments could pit neighbourhood against neighbourhood.
-
St. Thomas takes control of new apartment building to combat housing crisis
St. Thomas is touting another breakthrough in its approach to affordable housing.
-
'Landing place for young people': New Community Youth Hub unveiled at London Health Sciences Centre
Located at the London Health Sciences Centre Victoria Hospital, LHSC says the hub that is set to open Nov. 25, will offer vital support, resources and care to young Londoners living without housing.
Windsor
-
Defence argues Bertrand’s rights breached during terrorism interview
A defence lawyer is arguing his client’s charter rights were breached during a 90-minute interview with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
-
Walker Road reopens after 'very serious' crash
Windsor police temporarily closed a section of Walker Road after a crash, but have since reopened it.
-
'It feels fantastic to go home': Several displaced residents return home, while others wait
A small group of Chatham residents that were displaced due to a large apartment fire on Aug. 25, have started moving back home.
Barrie
-
Military aircraft relocation hits turbulence
Local Air Force veterans helped move a decommissioned airframe out of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden to the former site of the RCAFA 441 Huronia Wing on Monday, but the trip did not go as smoothly as planned.
-
Collingwood’s tree lighting miss: Holiday blunder lights up social media
This year, Collingwood’s Christmas tree debuted Saturday with what some described as an underwhelming display, prompting both criticism and sympathy for the organizers.
-
Officers testify in Midland man's murder trial
Two veteran provincial police officers described the emotional moments they arrived at the scene of a stabbing along Galloway Boulevard in Midland on the night of December 16, 2021 when they found a man on the ground bleeding from a stab wound to his upper chest.
Winnipeg
-
Multiple Manitoba communities under winter storm warning
A winter storm is heading to western Manitoba this week.
-
Winnipeg councillor wanting province to review, expand photo radar in the city
Winnipeg's police board chair thinks it might be time to expand the use of photo radar.
-
'Maybe we can regenerate our own teeth': Manitoba scientists exploring abilities in tropical fish
Tropical fish hold clues that two Manitoba scientists believe could help unlock regenerative abilities in humans—like the ability to regrow your own teeth or repair your own brain following an injury.
Atlantic
-
Halifax police say Walmart employee's death isn't suspicious, refuse to release details
Police in Halifax say the death of a Walmart employee who was found inside an oven in the store last month is not suspicious, but they are refusing to release any additional details.
-
Nova Scotia wells running dry as drought conditions persist in region
A drought that has created the need to limit water use in parts of Halifax is being felt elsewhere, where wells are running dry.
-
More than 80 goats, 2 sheep seized after being allowed to roam free in corn field: P.E.I. RCMP
Police and agriculture officials seized more than 80 goats and two sheep from a property in Sherbrooke, P.E.I., on Friday.
N.L.
-
Seniors face unique hurdles in finding love. These Canadians want to help.
The four women sipping tea around an antique wooden table in rural Newfoundland said they weren't looking for much in a mate: kindness, humour, a good sense of fun and, ideally, a full set of teeth.
-
English soccer game did not deliver such a big bounce for N.L. after all: province
Newfoundland and Labrador's return on investment for sponsoring a professional English soccer team was not quite as rosy as previously claimed.
-
Newfoundland man electrocuted by downed power line, two women injured
Police in Newfoundland say a man was electrocuted Saturday by a downed power wire about 10 kilometres north of St. John's, N.L.
Edmonton
-
WestJet announces direct flights from Edmonton to Chicago, Salt Lake City
WestJet Airlines announced they are adding more planes to their fleet and new non-stop destinations to their summer schedule on Monday.
-
How the Canada Post strike is impacting rural communities in Alberta
Derby’s Lakeview General Store in Seba Beach, an hour west of Edmonton, is contracted by Canada Post. It offers everything a regular post office would, such as sorting letter mail and processing and storing parcels.
-
Tories call on Boissonnault to resign amid apology over Indigenous ancestry claims
Members of Parliament returned to Ottawa on Monday after a weeklong break with no sign of a resolution to the House stalemate, tempers ramped back up, and renewed calls for a Liberal cabinet minister to resign — or be fired.
Calgary
-
Man killed in multi-vehicle crash near Gleichen, Alta.: RCMP
A man is dead following a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 1 east of Gleichen, Alta., on Monday morning.
-
Snow-covered Calgary roads cause slow and slick Monday commute for drivers
Calgary drivers had a slow and slippery commute to and from work on Monday, thanks to a dump of snow.
-
Mid-cycle budget talks begin as Calgarians come to city hall
Just over 40 people signed up to speak on Day 1 of what will be a multi-day meeting to determine the budget for the next two years, including a proposed property tax increase of 3.6 per cent combined.
Regina
-
'I knew that he crossed a boundary': Sixth witness testifies in Manz trial
Another alleged victim of Ruben Manz took the stand on Monday. The woman tearfully recalled feeling uncomfortable in the Regina chiropractor's office.
-
Regina Urgent Care Centre still lacking personnel necessary for 24/7 service
Regina Urgent Care Centre (UCC) continues to operate at a reduced schedule — leading to the Saskatchewan NDP claiming an election promise has already been broken.
-
Pats' GM says Vaughan twin requested trade after brother was suspended
The Regina Pats announced over the weekend that forward Jaxsin Vaughan had been traded to the Everett Silvertips for Caden Brown and a first-round pick. The trade came after Jaxsin's brother Corbin was suspended by the team indefinitely.
Saskatoon
-
Sask. father calls for justice for his son, killed by alleged drunk driver
A Saskatchewan father is calling for justice in the death of his son, who Saskatoon police say was killed by an impaired driver.
-
Sask. charities hope to minimize loss of mail-in donations amid postal strike
As the Canada Post strike carries on, and prime giving season gets underway, Saskatoon charities are concerned they’re losing out on vital mail-in donations.
-
Saskatoon library workers heading back to the picket lines
Saskatoon’s city library workers are heading back to the picket lines for a second one-day strike on Tuesday.
Vancouver
-
-
Pedestrian hospitalized following crash in Port Coquitlam
One person is in hospital after being struck by a vehicle in Port Coquitlam on Sunday.
-
Men from Ontario, B.C. charged in 'mistaken identity' shooting, RCMP say
Two men from Ontario and British Columbia have been charged in connection with a 2022 shooting that left an innocent victim seriously wounded.
Vancouver Island
-
'Saving lives is not controversial': B.C. doctors set up 'unsanctioned' overdose prevention sites at hospitals
A group of physicians are setting up unofficial overdose prevention sites outside two Vancouver Island hospitals Monday, aiming to help people struggling with addiction – while also sending a message to the government.
-
Here's a look at B.C. Premier David Eby's new cabinet
B.C. Premier David Eby introduced his new cabinet Monday, with some notable shuffles in high-profile ministries responsible for addressing some of the most pressing issues facing the province.
-
B.C. teen volunteer creates 'games cart' to make hospital more fun
Since she was a little girl, Chizara Frank-Imoh has wanted to be an engineer. But she says building community is even better.
