The skinny: The expected goaltending duel between the Canadiens’ Carey Price and the Senators’ Andrew Hammond failed to materialize as the Canadiens outscored the Ottawa Senators 4-3 Wednesday night in a chippy game that saw Montreal star defenceman P.K. Subban ejected for slashing Mark Stone. The win gave Montreal a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round playoff series that resumes Friday at the Bell Centre.
Early exit for Subban: The game turned into a free-for-all after the Canadiens scored twice early in the second period to take a 2-1 lead. Ottawa went on a power play after Lars Eller took a high-sticking penalty at 8:14 and Subban was handed a major for slashing and a game misconduct when he connected with a two-hander on Stone’s wrist. The Senators scored twice on the man advantage with the goals sandwiched around a short-handed goal by Eller. Kyle Turris tied the game at 10:36, Eller gave the Canadiens a 3-2 led when Brian Flynn sent him off on a breakaway at 11:42 and Mika Zibanejad knotted it a 3-3 with a power-play goal at 12:36. The Senators went 2-for-5 with the extra man, while the Canadiens came up empty on their one power play.
Fourth line delivers: The Canadiens have been searching for secondary scoring for most of the season and the bottom two lines stepped up with late-season acquisition Flynn leading the way. Flynn, who was rescued from the shipwreck in Buffalo along with Torrey Mitchell, scored a goal and added two assists. His goal at 17:17 of the second period allowed the Canadiens to head into the third period with a 4-3 lead.
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![Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher is hit by Ottawa Senators' Marc Methot during first-period playoff action in Montreal, Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher is hit by Ottawa Senators' Marc Methot during first-period playoff action in Montreal, Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher is hit by Ottawa Senators' Marc Methot during first-period playoff action in Montreal, Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher is hit by Ottawa Senators' Marc Methot during first-period playoff action in Montreal, Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens' Lars Eller and Ottawa Senators' Kyle Turris battle for the puck at centre ice during first- period playoff action in Montreal, Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens' Lars Eller and Ottawa Senators' Kyle Turris battle for the puck at centre ice during first- period playoff action in Montreal, Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher misses his check on Ottawa Senators' Marc Methot during first-period playoff action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher misses his check on Ottawa Senators' Marc Methot during first-period playoff action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens' Andrei Markov scores an own goal on Carey Price as Ottawa Senators' Bobby Ryan (6) and Mika Zibanejad (93) look on during first-period playoff action in Montreal, Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens' Andrei Markov scores an own goal on Carey Price as Ottawa Senators' Bobby Ryan (6) and Mika Zibanejad (93) look on during first-period playoff action in Montreal, Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens' Andrei Markov reacts after scoring an own goal on Carey Price as Ottawa Senators' Bobby Ryan (6) and Mika Zibanejad (93) look on during first-period playoff action in Montreal, Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens' Andrei Markov reacts after scoring an own goal on Carey Price as Ottawa Senators' Bobby Ryan (6) and Mika Zibanejad (93) look on during first-period playoff action in Montreal, Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Ottawa Senators' Curtis Lazar comes in close on Habsd net during first- period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Ottawa Senators' Curtis Lazar comes in close on Habsd net during first- period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Ottawa Senators' Mark Stone looks for opportunity as P.K. Subban closes in behind him during first-period action on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Ottawa Senators' Mark Stone looks for opportunity as P.K. Subban closes in behind him during first-period action on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Ottawa Senators' Kyle Turris is flanked by Montreal Canadiens' Lars Eller and Jacob De La Rose during first- period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Ottawa Senators' Kyle Turris is flanked by Montreal Canadiens' Lars Eller and Jacob De La Rose during first- period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Ottawa Senators' Marc Methot brings down Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Ottawa Senators' Marc Methot brings down Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens' Alexei Emelin and Ottawa Senators' Clarke MacArthur battle for puck during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday April 15, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens' Alexei Emelin and Ottawa Senators' Clarke MacArthur battle for puck during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday April 15, 2015.
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![Mika Zibanejad, 93, of the Ottawa Senators scores during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Mika Zibanejad, 93, of the Ottawa Senators scores during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Ottawa Senators' Bobby Ryan celebrates goal by Kyle Turris, not seen, during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Ottawa Senators' Bobby Ryan celebrates goal by Kyle Turris, not seen, during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens' Lars Eller scores during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens' Lars Eller scores during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens' P.K. Subban tries to make sense of his game misconduct penalty with referee Dave Jackson durinaction in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens' P.K. Subban tries to make sense of his game misconduct penalty with referee Dave Jackson durinaction in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens' Brian Flynn scores during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens' Brian Flynn scores during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Habs celebrate Lars Eller's goal during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Habs celebrate Lars Eller's goal during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens' Alex Galchenyuk tries to make play behind Ottawa Senators goalie Andrew Hammond during third-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens' Alex Galchenyuk tries to make play behind Ottawa Senators goalie Andrew Hammond during third-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens' Tom Gilbert and goalie Carey Price scramble with Ottawa Senators' Erik Condra on the prowl during third- period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens' Tom Gilbert and goalie Carey Price scramble with Ottawa Senators' Erik Condra on the prowl during third- period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Habs celebrate win over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Habs celebrate win over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![APRIL 15, 2015 -- Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price dives toward puck on play by Ottawa Senators' Curtis Lazar during third- period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
APRIL 15, 2015 -- Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price dives toward puck on play by Ottawa Senators' Curtis Lazar during third- period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price faces the wrong way as puck slides past the back of his head during third- period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price faces the wrong way as puck slides past the back of his head during third- period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
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![Habs' Tom Gilbert, from left, Brian Flynn and Torrey Mitchell celebrate Flynn's winning goal during the second period at the Bell Centre on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.]()
Habs' Tom Gilbert, from left, Brian Flynn and Torrey Mitchell celebrate Flynn's winning goal during the second period at the Bell Centre on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
Gallery: Canadiens vs. Senators, April 15, 2015
Montreal defeated Ottawa 4-3 in the first game of their playoff series. Here are some images from the game.
Local boy makes good: Greenfield Park native Mitchell beat Hammond on a wraparound at 7:51 0f the second period to tie the game at 1-1. It was his first goal in a Canadiens uniform. Tomas Plekanec got a step or two on Ottawa defenceman Erik Karlsson and scored 15 seconds later to give the Canadiens their first lead of the game. Subban assisted on both goals.
Hard-hitting start: Both teams came out hitting in the first period with Devante Smith-Pelly leading the charge for the Canadiens. Montreal dominated the early going, but the Senators gained momentum after they took a 1-0 lead on a fluke goal at 12:25. Subban chased down Milan Michalek’s pass attempt to Zibanejad behind the Montreal net, but the play went bad when Andrei Markov took a pass from Subban and inadvertently scored into his own net. Michalek was credited with the goal because he was the last Ottawa player to touch the puck.
Max not ready: Max Pacioretty, the Canadiens’ leader in goals and points, participated in the morning skate Wednesday but coach Michel Therrien said he wasn’t ready to resume playing. He said there was a possibility that Pacioretty could play in Game 2 Friday night at the Bell Centre. Defenceman Tom Gilbert was back in the lineup after missing the final two games of the regular season.
