The Montreal Canadiens emerged victorious in their preseason opener, edging out the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 in a shootout at the Bell Centre on September 22, 2025. Prospects Owen Beck and Oliver Kapanen played pivotal roles in the Canadiens' win.
The game was a tightly contested affair, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage through regulation time. After a scoreless overtime period, the game proceeded to a shootout, where Sean Farrell and Oliver Kapanen sealed the victory for Montreal with their successful attempts. Goaltender Sergei Murashov was tagged with the loss for the Penguins.
The Canadiens' lineup featured Noah Dobson, who was playing his first game in a Canadiens jersey. He was paired with Mike Matheson on the top defensive unit. The Penguins' roster, on the other hand, did not include star players like Erik Karlsson, Evgeni Malkin, or Sidney Crosby. A familiar face to Canadiens fans, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, was in the Penguins' lineup.
The Canadiens will continue their preseason schedule by hosting the Philadelphia Flyers, while the Penguins will travel to face the Columbus Blue Jackets.
