Dougie Hamilton scored on the first attempt of the shootout as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in the season opener for both teams Thursday night in Raleigh, N.C.

Hurricanes goalie Petr Mrazek stopped Paul Byron, Jonathan Drouin and Nick Suzuki in the shootout as Carolina overcame blowing an early 2-0 lead. Mrazek had 33 saves.

There was no scoring for the final 13 minutes of regulation and the five-minute overtime period.

Jordan Weal scored in transition off a feed from Byron with 3:24 to play in the second period for Montreal's first lead at 3-2.

Carolina pulled even right after a power play expired when Erik Haula, in his first game for the Hurricanes, knocked in the puck from close range with 13:05 to play in regulation.

Haula hadn't scored since Nov. 1 with the Vegas Golden Knights shortly before a season-ending knee injury.

Carolina had 15 of the first 20 shots on goal in the third period.

Montreal goalie Carey Price made 40 saves.

Lucas Wallmark and Martin Necas scored earlier for Carolina. Hamilton, a defenseman, finished with two assists.

Tomas Tatar and Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored within a two-minute span in the second period as the Canadiens wiped out a 2-0 deficit.

The Canadiens, who opened the season on the road for the sixth straight season, are 4-0-2 in their last six openers.

Wallmark began the scoring with 2:41 left in the first period. He tapped in a rebound between Price's pads.

The Hurricanes hit metal twice in the first 21 minutes. Newcomer Ryan Dzingel dinged a first-period shot off the crossbar on a breakaway. Teammate Jordan Staal's power-play attempt early in the second period smacked off the right post.

Later on the power play, Necas converted for his first NHL goal since last October.

Montreal defenseman Cale Fleury made his NHL debut. His brother, defenseman Haydn Fleury, was on the ice for the Hurricanes. Suzuki also played in his first NHL game.

--Field Level Media