Samuel Montembeault breaks an NHL record with a brilliant performance against the Toronto Maple Leafs

The Montreal Canadiens are used to breaking records as a franchise but on the team's opening night, goaltender Samuel Montembeault broke an NHL record.

The Montreal Canadiens came into the opening night hoping to make a statement and start their journey towards a Stanley Cup Playoff berth. Their first test would be the Toronto Maple Leafs who are one of the best regular season teams in the NHL and an offensive powerhouse.

With the high-flying Maple Leafs coming to town tonight's game was expected to be a high-scoring affair. However, goaltender Samuel Montembeault for the Montreal Canadiens had other plans. Early in the game, the Canadiens took the lead with a goal from Cole Caufield.

Cole Caufield of course is sending a tribute all season long to the Gaudreau family after the tragic passing of Johnny and Matthew by wearing the number 13. After that goal was scored by Cole Caufield it was expected to set off the game to be a track meet. Instead, Samuel Montembeault locked in and stopped all 47 shots that came his way from the Toronto Maple Leafs breaking an opening night record.

En route to this record-breaking performance, Samuel Montembeault made an early statement that he could be in for a breakout season. He also not only set a record of his own but broke a major streak that the Toronto Maple Leafs had been on.

Samuel Montembeault ends a nearly 3-year long streak for the Toronto Maple Leafs

After the dust settled it was also discovered that Samuel Montembeault played a major part in breaking a 252 consecutive game streak held by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs had not been shut out in nearly 3 years under former head coach Sheldon Keefe. Keefe was fired this summer by the Toronto Maple Leafs after struggling to find success in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Now in game one of the Craig Berube era that streak comes to an end.

This game was a tale of two completely different teams. The Montreal Canadiens looked like a young energetic team ready to take the next step with players stepping up across the board. The Maple Leafs looked like a team fighting against themselves and on different pages. The hiring of Berube by the Maple Leafs was supposed to bring structure and toughness to the Maple Leafs lineup but it looked like the exact opposite.

If Samuel Montembeault can be this kind of difference-maker going forward the Montreal Canadiens could become a contending team sooner rather than later. As for the Maple Leafs, they need to figure things out quickly and get on the same page.

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