Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock stands behind the bench as his team plays the Montreal Canadiens during second period NHL action in Toronto on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

TORONTO - It didn't take long for one of the NHL's new rules to get its first test.

On the opening night of the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs' Mike Babcock initiated the first coach's challenge in NHL history and was successful in overturning a goal by the Montreal Canadiens.

It looked like Jeff Petry had scored 6:36 into the second period Wednesday night, but Babcock challenged it on the grounds that Tomas Plekanec interfered with goaltender Jonathan Bernier. Babcock will get his name in the history books, but he gave the credit to assistant coaches Andrew Brewer and Jim Hiller.

"Someone's going to say I challenged — I didn't challenge nothing," Babcock said after the Leafs' 3-1 loss. "Brew yelled in Jim Hiller's ear, and Jim Hiller said we're challenging. They were good enough to put it up on the screen, so I knew by the time the guy got over there."

Coach's challenges are new to the NHL this season and can be made on goals involving goalie interference or offside plays.

Referees Frederik L'Ecuyer and Dan O'Rourke looked at the replay by the penalty box at Air Canada Centre and determined Plekanec made incidental contact with Bernier and therefore it was not a goal.

"The play happened so quick and you couldn't see that stick that got me the throat," Bernier said.

While scrappy winger Brendan Gallagher quipped that he was surprised he didn't interfere with the goaltender first, his Habs teammates were satisfied even though the coach's challenge cost them a goal.

"Smart play for them and obviously it worked out," said Montreal captain Max Pacioretty, who acknowledged he didn't know how the new system worked. "It seemed like it was the right call from what I saw. Got to give them credit for the good decision."

Because he won the challenge, Babcock maintained his timeout. As part of the new rule, a coach must have his timeout left in order to challenge a goal.

The league takes over the expanded video review for the final minute of the third period and all of overtime.

Coaches weren't allowed to try during the pre-season, but Michel Therrien of the Canadiens said his staff was prepared.

"This is something new for everyone, and we're going to learn through the course of the season," Therrien said after the morning skate. "We're ready. We're anticipating and went through different situations with our staff because a lot of times behind the bench it's tough to make that call."

The other new rule is three-on-three play in overtime, replacing four-on-four in an effort to reduce shootouts. Alex Galchenyuk's game-winner in the third period prevented more history from taking place at Air Canada Centre on Wednesday night.

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News from © The Canadian Press, 2015