Oct 8, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Matias MacCelli (63) battles for the puck with Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson (8) in the course of the first interval at Scotiabank Area. Obligatory Credit score: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Photos Morgan Rielly scored the go-ahead objective within the third interval Wednesday evening and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the visiting Montreal Canadiens 5-2 within the season opener for each groups.
Bobby McMann, Calle Jarnkrok, Auston Matthews (empty internet) and William Nylander (empty internet) additionally scored for the Maple Leafs.
Nylander, Steven Lorentz and John Tavares every had two assists, and Rielly added an help. Toronto goalie Anthony Stolarz stopped 29 photographs.
Oliver Kapanen and Zack Bolduc scored whereas Sam Montembeault made 22 saves for the Canadiens.
Toronto took a 3-2 lead on Rielly’s objective from the slot at 9:02 of the third interval after Matthew Knies was foiled on a breakaway. Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson misplaced his stick after coming near scoring earlier than Knies broke out on his sortie.
Montembeault was eliminated for an additional attacker and Matthews gained a race for the puck deep into the Montreal zone earlier than knocking the puck into the empty objective at 18:28 of the third. Nylander adopted go well with along with his empty-netter at 19:45.
Montembeault was examined twice early earlier than McMann tipped in Nylander’s shot at 1:00 of the primary interval after Tavares gained possession following a faceoff.
Kapanen scored his first NHL objective at 5:39 of the primary to tie the sport whereas the Canadiens have been short-handed. He picked off an errant cross within the impartial zone, skated into the Toronto zone unimpeded earlier than unleashing a shot from the best circle.
The enhancing Canadiens pressed the Maple Leafs and made them look disorganized for elements of the opening 20 minutes that appeared very very similar to an opening-night contest.
Montreal took the lead at 1:30 of the second interval when Bolduc slipped in a backhand from the sting of the crease on a rebound from Brendan Gallagher’s shot.
Toronto responded at 5:40 of the second when Jarnkrok pounced on the rebound from Rielly’s shot and scored on a shot via the five-hole. Lorentz was alongside the barrier when he kicked the puck again to Rielly.
Tavares hit the submit on a 35-foot wrist shot at 18:24 of the second earlier than Montreal threatened with a few probabilities on objective to finish the interval.
–Area Degree Media
