Ottawa Senators centre Zack Smith (15) and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Nathan Beaulieu (28) battle for the puck in the second period at Canadian Tire Centre.Marc DesRosiers
Mike Condon made 20 saves to pick up his first NHL victory as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-1 Sunday night.
The 25-year-old, making his NHL debut, spoiled the Senators home opener for the 19,177 on hand at Canadian Tire Centre.
Tomas Plekanec, with two goals, and Torrey Mitchell scored for the Canadiens, who remain undefeated (3-0-0) to start the season.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the lone goal for the Senators (2-1-0), while Matt O'Connor made 31 saves in his NHL debut.
Both teams were playing the second of back-to-back games.
The Canadiens held a 2-1 lead going into the third and while both teams created a number of great chances to start the period it was the Canadiens who were able to regain a two-goal lead on Mitchell's goal at the five-minute mark.
Mitchell redirected P.K. Subban's shot from just inside the blue line, leaving O'Connor with little chance.
Pageau, who had missed on a great chance earlier in the period, cut the lead to one midway through the second with a short-handed goal as he and Curtis Lazar broke in on a two-on-one.
The Senators played much of the second period shorthanded as they took five minor penalties. The Canadiens, however, were unable to capitalize on their power-play opportunities despite having a two-man advantage for 1:09.
Both young goaltenders were tested early and made a number of saves to keep the game scoreless.
Plekanec opened the scoring at the nine-minute mark as he beat O'Connor with a sharp angle shot. Then he made it 2-0 late in the period as he broke in alone and beat O'Connor through the legs.
Notes: D Erik Karlsson played his 400th career game, while LW Milan Michalek played his 700th. Senators' owner Eugene Melnyk was on hand to drop the puck with his two daughters... This was the first time Melnyk was seen at a game since undergoing a liver transplant this past spring... Condon and O'Connor are the first goaltenders to make their first NHL start on the same night since October 14, 1967.