Montreal Canadiens defeat Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in NHL season opener

The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in their 2026-27 NHL season opener at Scotiabank Arena. The game featured several notable debuts, including Toronto’s first-overall pick Gavin McKenna and recent acquisition Kirill Marchenko.

William Nylander scored twice for the Maple Leafs, including a goal just 48 seconds into the first period. However, Montreal responded with goals from Josh Anderson, Zachary Bolduc, and Alexandre Carrier to secure the victory. Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes made 25 saves to anchor the win.

For Toronto, the loss marks a difficult start following a season where they missed the playoffs. The team is currently navigating significant roster changes, including the addition of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. The Maple Leafs are scheduled to host the New York Islanders next.