Golden Knights roll previous Canadiens in Stanley Cup semifinal opener | CBC Sports activities

It was Montreal’s first sport outdoors of Canada in 2021, and it got here earlier than a boisterous crowd of 17,884 — a far cry from what COVID-19 restrictions have allowed north of the border all season.

Montreal’s Cole Caufield buried the lone tally for the Habs on an influence play within the second body.

Carey Worth stopped 26-of-30 photographs for the Canadiens and Marc-Andre Fleury turned in a 28 save efficiency for the Golden Knights.

WATCH | Canadiens drop Sport 1 in opposition to Golden Knights:

The Knights managed Monday’s sport nearly from the opening faceoff, notching their first with a fearsome Theodore one-timer from the purpose that beat a sliding Carey Worth on the stick facet.

They made it 2-0 early within the second when Theodore faked a shot and shovelled it over to Martinez, whose faceoff-circle blast on a near-empty internet left Worth diving throughout the crease in useless.

Montreal spoiled Fleury’s shutout hopes with the person benefit on the 12:05 mark when Caufield buried a juicy rebound off a Tyler Toffoli shot for his first purpose of the playoffs.

However the momentum was short-lived: lower than a minute later, Janmark made it 3-1 from the sting of the crease by tipping a drifting shot from Alex Tuch previous Worth’s outstretched pad.

WATCH | Habs’ Worth makes spectacular glove save:

Montreal goalie Carey Worth denies Vegas ahead Mark Stone with a tremendous glove save throughout Sport 1 of their Stanley Cup semifinal collection. 0:57

Knights defender Holden made it 4-1 halfway via the third earlier than Worth headed for the bench, a four-minute stretch of six-on-five hockey that gave Fleury an opportunity to indicate off for the followers.

The collection guarantees to be a chippy one — practically each scoring rush led to a scrum behind or beside the online, regularly with pissed off Habs ahead Brendan Gallagher on the centre of it.

Even so, the primary body produced just one energy play per facet — Montreal did not capitalize on an early high-sticking name in opposition to Vegas centre Jonathan Marchesseault, then fought off the person benefit after Phillip Daneault hauled down Alex Pietrangelo deep in Montreal territory.

The penalty scenario modified shortly within the second.

WATCH | Habs’ Carey Worth making shooters really feel ‘insufficient’:

Rob Pizzo takes a deep dive into the Habs playoff run with the Athletic’s Montreal correspondent Arpon Basu. 9:47

The second interval was solely seven seconds outdated when Habs defender Ben Chiarot’s blooper clearing try caught the netting above the glass behind Fleury, a delay-of-game name.

The highest-ranked Golden Knights received an NHL-best 40 video games within the shortened 56-game common season and tied Colorado for the best level whole within the league — 23 factors greater than Montreal within the standings.

However the Canadiens have been the underdogs twice already this post-season.

WATCH | Canadiens proceed inconceivable playoff run:

Rob Pizzo breaks down the staff’s stunning run to the ultimate 4. 4:59

They weren’t anticipated to beat the division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs within the opening spherical, nor have been they favoured to beat the third-place Winnipeg Jets within the second spherical. The staff silenced critics in each circumstances and got here into Vegas using a seven-game win streak that included a sweep of the Jets.

It is not all acquainted territory for the Habs, although.

The Montreal-Vegas collection is the primary cross-border matchup within the NHL this season, made attainable by a federal exemption permitting groups to bypass 14-day quarantine necessities.

Monday’s capability crowd was a stark distinction from the empty Canadian arenas throughout the common season and even the two,500 followers permitted inside Montreal’s Bell Centre throughout the playoffs.