It took nine games last season to do what took only one game this season - win one game. And all it took was some decent goaltending. Jean-Sebastien Giguere's last-second heroics earned the Leafs the victory, twice denying the Canadiens from close range in the dying seconds. He was the first star of the game. If this keeps up Andrew Raycroft, Vesa Toskala and Joey McDonald will be just bad memories.
It is always a treat to beat Montreal. In addition, the Leafs have been having difficulty in home openers over the past few years. The last time the Leafs won a season opener on home ice was against Montreal a decade ago.
It was good to see Tim Brent have an impact in his first regular season game with the Leafs. It was just his 20th NHL game. He scored the first goal on a tip in of a Dion Phaneuf and landed some big hits.
Other observations - killing off three consecutive penalties in the second period marked a strong start in one of the key categories in which the club has to improve in after being the worst in the league last season. Then again, the power play failed in five attempts, and the Leafs were 30th overall in that part of the game, as well.
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