It was the first shootout of the NHL season and came as the Canadiens opened the franchise's 100th year.

Ales Kotalik and Drew Stafford scored in the shootout, giving Buffalo a good start in what the Sabres hope will be a much-improved campaign. After reaching the conference finals two straight years, Buffalo slumped to a 10th-place finish in the East last season.

Both regulation goals came in the first period -- Robert Lang putting Montreal in front 2:58 into the contest and Thomas Vanek tying it five minutes later.

Montreal finished atop the Eastern Conference last season before falling to Philadelphia in the second round of the playoffs.