Boutin finished third over 500 and 1,500 metres and second in the 1,000m at last month's Games in Pyeongchang.

She eased her way through after finishing first in the heats of all three events at the Maurice-Richard Arena.

"I'm back to the energy level I was before after having a little low following the Olympics," Boutin was quoted as saying by CBC afterwards.

"I felt confident out there on the ice, it went well, and I feel confident I will be able to keep my energy level up until Sunday (March 19).

"World Championships are very different from Olympic Games because here, all the races happen over three days only, so it's a challenge mentally and physically. 

"The key is to manage one's energy level well."

South Korea's 1,500m Olympic gold medallist Choi Min-jeong was among others to start well as she cruised through her 1,500m heat against the likes of 500m silver medal winner Yara van Kerkhof of The Netherlands.

Dutch team-mate Suzanne Schulting also cruised through in the 1,000m, the event where she won Olympic gold in Pyeongchang.

Italy's Olympic 500m winner Arianna Fontana is not competing individually in Montreal, however, so was not on the start-ine for the heats of that event.

Britain's Elise Christie, the defending overall women's champion, is among other absentees through injury.

Samuel Girard of Canada was another home skater to qualify in all three events on the men's side of the draw.

South Korea's other home winner in Pyeongchang, Lim Hyo Jun, also progressed in his favoured 1,500m event.

All finals are due to take place over the weekend.