MONTREAL — It was the second intermission of the playoff opener Wednesday night, and P.K. Subban was standing outside the Montreal Canadiens’ dressing room. He had slashed the Ottawa Senators’ Mark Stone and received a major penalty and a game misconduct. He was in a suit, not his uniform.

Elise Beliveau, the widow of the late Jean Beliveau, came by as she often does. She sits in the family seats three rows behind the bench in Section 101 and retreats to a lounge underneath the stands at the Bell Centre.

View photos Elise Beliveau, wife of Habs legend Jean Beliveau, offered Subban support and wore his jersey to Game 2. (AP) More

“I know you’ll be better next game,” she told him.

Subban said he was worked up for Game 2 on Friday night and got even more worked up when he saw Mrs. Beliveau behind the glass. She rarely wears jerseys, and she stood up to show him she was wearing a jersey this time.

His jersey.

“I want to be better for her,” he said.

And so Subban played his best. He was the first star of a 3-2 overtime victory that gave the Canadiens a 2-0 series lead. He logged 29:06 of ice time. He attempted 13 shots. He scored a goal with a slapshot so wicked, it made the goaltender duck.

The Senators had to be sick. They wanted Subban suspended for injuring Stone, whose right wrist was so sore he couldn’t shoot. But NHL disciplinarian Stephane Quintal felt Subban had been punished enough by missing half of Game 1, and so here was Subban in full effect – the hero, the villain.

Subban is an electric talent, a strong personality and a maturing leader. He makes great plays. He makes bold statements. He makes his share of mistakes at age 25, too, but his respect and reverence for his team and the game are genuine.

After the slash, Subban hopped up and down, held out his hands, slumped his shoulders and stared at the rafters, as if he couldn’t believe Stone would collapse and the referee would make the call. When Stone returned to the game even before the major ended, Subban threw a tantrum outside the dressing room.

The next day, Subban said the slash wasn’t that hard and it was frustrating to see Stone return. But he also took responsibility for a dumb play – the Canadiens were already killing a penalty at the time, and the referee was right there – and said the ref made the right call. He said he felt he let his teammates down.

“I’m never afraid to call myself out,” Subban said. “When you’re a leader on a team, you want to hold everybody accountable, and you have to hold yourself accountable. I felt last game, I let my emotions get to me a little bit. Thank god I have great teammates, and they stepped up.”

Remember: Subban’s father, Karl, came to Canada from Jamaica. He became a Canadiens fan – a Jean Beliveau fan. Subban grew up a Canadiens fan even though he lived in Toronto and heard a lot about a certain Hall of Famer.

When Subban became a Canadien, he developed a relationship with the Beliveau family. He spoke to Helene Beliveau, the daughter of Jean and Elise Beliveau, about trying to see Jean Beliveau when he was in failing health. But Jean Beliveau died Dec. 2 at age 83 while the Canadiens were on a road trip.

Elise Beliveau sat next to an empty seat afterward.

“I remember the ceremony before the game when we honored Mr. Beliveau, and seeing her in the stands, it brings tears to your eyes,” Subban said. “I’m just very happy to be able to be a part of this organization while she’s here to celebrate him.”

Story continues