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Morgan Rielly's Big Night Powers Maple Leafs over Canadiens

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly broke a 2-2 tie at 9:02 of the third period, finishing a Matthew Knies rush by firing a wrist shot past Sam Montembeault.
Mitch Marner declined a contract extension and the club executed a sign-and-trade sending him to the Vegas Golden Knights, bringing Nicolas Roy to Toronto for Wednesday's opener.
At 5:39 of the first period, Oliver Kapanen scored his first NHL goal short-handed, becoming the fifth player in franchise history to do so and first since Chris Chelios on Oct. 13, 1984.
This season-opening meeting marked the sixth straight season and 23rd meeting overall between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, with Nicolas Roy, Matias Maccelli and Dakota Joshua debuting for Toronto.
Sam Montembeault made 23 saves in the Canadiens' opener, and both clubs head to Detroit with the Canadiens Thursday and the Leafs Saturday.

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39 Articles

Montreal Gazette

Lean Right

Hidden Game: Canadiens stumble into season, losing opener in Toronto

Maple Leafs 5, Canadiens 2. Little intensity and emotion at Scotiabank Arena.

9 days ago·Montreal, Canada

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The Globe & Mail

Center

New-look Leafs open their season with a win over rival Canadiens

Leafs win their 10th consecutive home opener

9 days ago·Canada

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Toronto Sun

Right

Rielly scores winner as Maple Leafs beat Canadiens in season opener

Defenceman Morgan Rielly made the difference against the Montreal Canadiens in a 5-2 Toronto Maple Leafs victory on Wednesday night.

9 days ago·Toronto, Canada

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Global News

Lean Left

Leafs top Habs to open post-Marner era in Toronto

Morgan Rielly scored the winner in the third period and added an assist as the Toronto Maple Leafs topped the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 in the first game of the post-Mitch Marner era Wednesday.

9 days ago·Toronto, Canada

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Le Journal de Quebec

"I Won't Ring the Alarm in the First Game": the Ch Centers Sank the Exam of the Games, but Martin St-Louis Doesn't Panic

Against the Maple Leafs, only one center player was able to win more than half of his bets in the game.

8 days ago·Quebec City, Canada

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L'Express

Les Maple Leafs débutent la saison avec une victoire sur le Canadien

Quoi de mieux pour débuter la saison 2025-2026 qu’un match contre les ennemis jurés de Montréal. Les Maple Leafs accueillaient les Canadiens mercredi soir à l’Aréna Scotiabank. Une rivalité qui s’annonce une fois de plus très excitante cette année. Les esprits se sont rapidement échauffés. Photo: Chris Young Tradition et nouveaux visages La soirée a débuté avec les cérémonies d’ouvertures, incluant la traditionnelle prestation du 48e régiment H…

9 days ago

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