Canadiens score three first-period goals to spoil Red Wings' season opener, 5-1

DETROIT (AP) — Mike Matheson had a goal and an assist and the Montreal Canadiens spoiled Detroit's season opener with a 5-1 victory over the Red Wings on Thursday night.

Zachary Bolduc, Oliver Kapanen, Alexandre Carrier and Juraj Slafkovsky also scored for the Canadiens, who bounced back from a 5-2, season-opening loss at Toronto on Wednesday night.

Patrick Gallagher and Nick Suzuki had two assists apiece, while Jakub Dobes made 30 saves.

Dylan Larkin scored on a first-period power play for the Red Wings.

Goaltender John Gibson, who was acquired from Anaheim in an offseason trade, had an inauspicious Detroit debut. He was pulled with 2:48 remaining in the second period after allowing Slafkovsky's power-play goal off a rebound. Gibson made just eight saves on 13 shots before he was replaced by Cam Talbot.

Matheson scored with 6.7 seconds left in the first period to give the Canadiens a 3-1 lead. He lifted a shot from the left side that eluded Gibson's catching glove.

The Canadiens took advantage of Red Wings defensive breakdowns to score their first two goals.

Bolduc, who also had a goal at Toronto, converted on a breakaway. Kapanen scored in front off a pass from Alex Newhook on a two-on-one break to give Montreal a 2-1 lead.

Carrier scored on a slap shot from the point at 5:19 of the second period. Slafkovsky's goal off a rebound gave the Canadiens a 5-1 advantage.

Canadiens: Visit Chicago on Saturday night.

Red Wings: Host Toronto on Saturday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Detroit Red Wings goalie John Gibson (36) stops a Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) shot in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Montreal Canadiens center Oliver Kapanen (91) celebrates his goal with Ivan Demidov (93) and Alex Newhook (15) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Montreal Canadiens center Oliver Kapanen (91) scores on Detroit Red Wings goalie John Gibson (36) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Montreal Canadiens right wing Zack Bolduc (76) scores on Detroit Red Wings goalie John Gibson (36) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson, center, celebrates his goal with Nick Suzuki (14) and Noah Dobson (53) against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

MIAMI (AP) — Anfernee Simons scored 18 of his season-high 39 points in the fourth quarter, Jaylen Brown added 27 and the Boston Celtics trailed most of the way before rallying to beat the Miami Heat 119-114 on Thursday night.

Sam Hauser added 17 points for the Celtics, who outscored Miami 36-21 in the fourth quarter and won after facing as much as a 19-point deficit. It was their second-biggest comeback win of the season, after coming from 20 down to beat Indiana on Dec. 22.

Simons had the second highest-scoring game for a reserve this season — Utah's Brice Sensabaugh had 43 on Wednesday night in a loss to Chicago — and became the fourth Celtics player in the last 50 years to score at least 39 off the bench. The others: Larry Bird, Todd Day and Payton Pritchard.

Norman Powell scored 26 points for Miami, which got 22 points apiece from Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. Andrew Wiggins added 16 for the Heat.

Simons had 11 consecutive Boston points in the fourth quarter to chip away at what was left of the Miami edge, and then Hauser got an open 3-pointer with 5:21 left to give the Celtics their first lead since the opening minute of the game.

The lead changed hands twice more, before Brown's 3-pointer with 4:05 remaining put Boston on top for good.

Miami started the game on a 28-9 run, putting the Celtics in a most unusual early position.

That 19-point margin — only about seven minutes into the game — matched the biggest first-quarter deficit the Celtics faced in a 304-game span since trailing Indiana by 20 early on in a game on Dec. 21, 2022. Boston also trailed Milwaukee by 19 in the first quarter on April 9, 2024.

The Heat played without starting point guard Davion Mitchell (left shoulder contusion) and sixth man Jaime Jaquez Jr. (left knee soreness).

Celtics: At Atlanta on Saturday night.

Heat: Host Oklahoma City on Saturday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons, center, is defended by Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons (4) comes under pressure from Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons (4) goes for the basket defended by Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware, obscured, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (24) reacts after making a shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra watches from courtside during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)