Senators vs. Canadiens 2015 final score: Montreal takes Game 1

In the end, Price fared better than his counterpart, and the Canadiens took down the Senators, 4-3.

Ottawa got on the board first thanks to a costly error from Montreal's Andrei Markov, who whacked the puck into his own net 7:35 into regulation. This didn't faze the Habs, however, as they regrouped during intermission and beat Hammond four times in the second period -- capped by a game-winning goal by Brian Flynn. Lars Eller, Torrey Mitchell and Tomas Plekanec found the score sheet as well.

Eller's tying goal was quickly answered by Mika Zibanejad on the power play, which knotted the game at three goals apiece at the time. In addition to Zibanejad's tally, Kyle Turris beat Price with a wrister, and Milan Michalek was credited with the goal Markov scored on Price.

The Habs were forced to play the latter half of the contest without P.K. Subban, their best defenseman and a Norris Trophy candidate, as he was ejected 8:23 into in the second period. The 25-year-old rearguard was tossed for slashing Mark Stone in his right wrist. According to former NHL referee Kerry Fraser, a major penalty must be assessed when a slash injures an opponent. Thus, Subban received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for his infraction.

Montreal did just fine without Subban, though, and won the third period shot battle, 12-7. Jeff Petry picked up the slack with a solid night on Montreal's blue line: The Michigan native was on the ice for 33 shot attempts for and 22 against while starting only 27 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone.