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LONDON, Ont. — The Canadiens got off to a slow start but they finished with a flourish as they opened a four-team NHL rookie tournament Friday with a decisive 8-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“We weathered the storm early,” said Michael McCarron, who led the offence with a pair of goals and an assist. “(Goaltender Charlie Lindgren) and our defence held us in for the first 10, 15 minutes. We were really struggling but we’re together in that room. We’re all good friends and it translates on the ice.”

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Lindgren, who won his first and only NHL start last season, experienced déjà vu when the Penguins opened the scoring 21 seconds into the game.

Defenceman Lukas Bengtsson scored on a shot from the blue line that hit the wrong side of the post for Lindgren.

“It’s the story of my career with the Canadiens so far,” said Lindgren, who signed late last season after wrapping up a successful college career at St. Cloud State. “Last year against Carolina, first shot, first goal and the same thing tonight. It’s not fun doing but I just had to buckle down the rest of the way.”