What happened: Montreal scored on the power play to tie the game 1-1 in the first period. The goal was announced at 5:32 of P1. The score left the trip opener even early.

Why it matters: The equalizer wiped out the early lead and put special teams at the center of the night. An early road lead is short-lived, so the next stretch tests Buffalo's penalty kill and five-on-five response. First-period goals shape line deployment the rest of the way.

What to watch: Watch whether Buffalo stays out of the box the rest of the first period and reclaims the lead before intermission.