Brendan Gallagher strikes first for the Canadiens in Game 7

The Montreal Canadiens struck first in Game 7 against the Maple Leafs, courtesy of Brendan Gallagher capitalizing on a Toronto turnover.

Both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens entered Monday with their seasons on the line, in the first Game 7 between the two historic rivals since 1964. The series up to this point had been full of drama, headlined by the underdog Canadiens winning Game 5 and 6 in overtime to force a decisive Game 7.

With Montreal looking to complete the series comeback, they opened up the scoring in Game 7 with a goal from Brendan Gallagher, as he took advantage of a Maple Leafs turnover and some shoddy goaltending.

The sequence started with a turnover from Mitch Marner at the opposite blue line, followed by Gallagher gliding through center ice and down the wing before firing a shot through the five hole of goaltender Jack Campbell. The goal would be Gallagher’s first point of the series, but it could not come at a better time for the Habs to give them a 1-0 lead.

That’s a goal that goaltender Jack Campbell absolutely has to make a save on, but the turnover from Marner to cause the break is just another in a long list of mistakes for the Leafs winger in this series.

History significantly favors the team that scores the first goal of the game in Game 7, with a winning percentage of nearly 66%.

Even with only minimal attendance for Toronto in this Game 7, you could almost feel the air being taken out of the entire province on Ontario following the goal from Gallagher, as it pushed the Maple Leafs closer to their most embarrassing playoff defeat yet at the hands of their oldest rival.

The tension would only get worse in Toronto as Corey Perry made it 2-0 before the end of the second period, setting the stage for a franchise defining third period for both sides if the Habs hold on or if the Maple Leafs comeback. Either way, Game 7 has not disappointed one bit.