Canadiens 2, Capitals 1 (SO)
Brendan Gallagher scored the decisive goal in fifth round of the shootout as visiting Montreal spoiled Washington's season opener.
Tomas Plekanec netted the tying goal midway through the third period while Alex Galchenyuk and David Desharnais tallied in the bonus format to help give the Canadiens their first 2-0-0 start since 2009-10. Dustin Tokarski made 29 saves before turning aside two shots in the shootout to improve to 3-0-0 lifetime with Montreal.
Rookie Andre Burakovsky scored in his NHL debut for the Capitals, who lost to the Canadiens for only the third time in 13 meetings. Braden Holtby stopped 23 shots in falling to 5-0-1 lifetime against Montreal.
Washington recorded the first 13 shots of the contest, but it was a turnover by Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban that led to the opening goal. Troy Brouwer snatched the puck from Subban and fed Burakovsky for a one-timer from the slot that beat Tokarski to the glove side at 6:43 of the first period.
Montreal appeared to notch the equalizer midway through the third on PA Parenteau's shot from the slot, only to see the goal waved off when Rene Bourque made contact with Holtby. Undaunted, the Canadiens struck just over a minute later as Galchenyuk set up Plekanec from the right faceoff circle at 10:31 for his third goal of the season.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Burakovsky became the first Washington player to score in his NHL debut since captain Alex Ovechkin accomplished the feat on Oct. 5, 2005. ... Bourque nearly put the Canadiens ahead with 4:29 left in the third period on a blistering shot that caromed off the right post and forced the officials to review the play to see if the puck went in. ... Capitals D Mike Green, sidelined with an upper-body injury since Sept. 26, sat out the season opener but is expected to return to the lineup soon.