The Montreal Canadiens visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, to kick off the NHL regular season. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, and the game will air in Canada on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
Why this opener carries extra weight
This is not just another early-season rivalry game. Montreal is coming off a run to the third round of the 2026 playoffs, while Toronto missed the postseason, changed coaches, and reworked its roster.
The Maple Leafs also brought in first overall draft pick Gavin McKenna, who is expected to make his regular-season debut in one of hockey’s biggest matchups. That gives the night a new layer of intrigue beyond the usual Canadiens-Maple Leafs hostility.
A rivalry with familiar energy and new questions
Montreal and Toronto are meeting in their season opener for the seventh straight year, so the setting is very familiar. Even so, the storylines are different for each club.
- Montreal wants to prove last year’s playoff push was the start of a longer rise.
- Toronto needs quick chemistry after a coaching change and several roster additions.
- McKenna’s debut adds a fresh spotlight to an already intense Original Six clash.
The Canadiens’ attack could set the tone
The Canadiens have enough firepower to punish mistakes. Captain Nick Suzuki finished with 101 points last season, and Cole Caufield added 50 goals, giving Montreal a pair of dangerous finishing threats.
If Toronto’s new combinations take time to settle in, Montreal has the skill to take advantage early. That makes the Canadiens a real threat to control the pace if they find space in transition or on the power play.
McKenna is the name everyone will watch
Gavin McKenna is the most compelling player in the building, even if he is not the safest bet to score first. The 18-year-old was taken No. 1 overall in the 2026 NHL Draft and is stepping into regular-season hockey under the brightest possible lights.
Toronto’s projected setup has him alongside John Tavares and William Nylander, though the final lines could still change before game time. His best test will be how often he can get touches in dangerous areas and whether he can create chances against Montreal’s defense.
Best scoring pick and likely game swing
Cole Caufield is the most logical goal pick for this matchup. He already showed sharp form in preseason, scoring twice against Ottawa on September 21, including the overtime winner, and his 50-goal season makes him Montreal’s clearest scoring threat.
Auston Matthews is Toronto’s strongest answer. If the Maple Leafs establish sustained pressure, he has the finishing ability to take over a game on his own.
The main deciding factor: which team finds its rhythm first. Toronto has home ice and elite talent, but Montreal may be more settled and ready to attack early. If the Leafs connect quickly, McKenna’s debut could become the story of the night; if the Canadiens strike first, Caufield is the player most likely to make it costly.