It's not often the Montreal Canadiens are tying historic team records although what occurred Thursday night is one they probably wish they hadn't.
The Canadiens matched their franchise record for most goals allowed in the first period as they fell behind 7-3 to the Florida Panthers in the opening frame at FLA Live Arena.
The unfortunate mark had only been reached twice previously and as expected you have to go back a bit: Jan. 11, 1938, against the Montreal Maroons (a franchise that hasn't existed since that year) and Oct. 19, 1985, against the Hartford Whalers (a franchise that at least still exists but is now known as the Carolina Hurricanes).
The latter was also the last time any team had scored seven in the opening period.
With the 10 combined goals, the teams also tied the NHL record for most goals in a first period. The record for the most combined goals in any period is 12 which has been done twice.
Mike Matheson's goal to open the scoring for the Canadiens just 16 seconds into the contest should have been a sign of what was to come.
Colin White and Carter Verhaeghe quickly put the Panthers ahead until Anthony Richard tied it back up for Montreal at 5:20 into the period.
Gustav Forsling made it 3-2 Panthers just past the six-minute mark as the Canadiens pulled netminder Samuel Montembeault, who had three saves on six shots.
Sergei Bobrovsky wasn't faring much better at the other end of the ice for the Panthers as he allowed his third goal on his third shot when Michael Pezzetta found the back of the net to knot it up again at 3-all.
It was all Florida from there for the remainder of the period though.
Aaron Ekblad reestablished the Panthers' lead less than a minute later, which also made it the second fastest game to combine for seven goals in league history with the Panthers going ahead 4-3 at 9:09 into the game.
Additional goals followed from Ryan Lomberg, Sam Reinhart and Verhaeghe again to make it 7-3.
Meanwhile, Bobrovsky "improved" by making three saves although your mileage may vary.
Things settled down from there as Allen finished the frame with eight saves on 12 shots.
The Panthers ended up winning 9-5.
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