Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs: Who Will Make the Difference on Opening Night?

The Montreal Canadiens visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, to open the NHL regular season. Puck drop is 7 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The game will air in Canada on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

It is a familiar opening-night matchup with a fresh storyline. Montreal enters after reaching the third round of the 2026 playoffs. Toronto missed the playoffs, changed its coach and added several players, including first overall draft pick Gavin McKenna. He is expected to make his NHL regular-season debut against the Canadiens.

Why is Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs the game to watch?

Montreal and Toronto are beginning their seasons against each other for the seventh consecutive year. The rivalry gives opening night an edge, but the teams also arrive with different questions to answer.

For the Canadiens, the question is whether last season’s playoff run was the start of something bigger. Captain Nick Suzuki recorded 101 points, while Cole Caufield scored 50 goals. Montreal has proven scorers who can punish Toronto if it gives them space.

For the Maple Leafs, the first test is how quickly a changed lineup can work together. New coach Jim Hiller has had a short training camp to bring the group together. Toronto still has established threats in Auston Matthews and William Nylander, with McKenna adding another player for Montreal to track.

Best player to watch: Gavin McKenna

McKenna is the most interesting player to watch, even if he is not the safest scoring pick. The 18-year-old was selected first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft and is expected to play his first regular-season game in one of hockey’s biggest Canadian rivalries. Toronto’s projected lineup places him with John Tavares and William Nylander, though the final lines could change before puck drop.

Watch how often McKenna gets the puck in attacking positions and whether he can create chances against Montreal’s defence. A strong debut would give Toronto’s new-look lineup an immediate lift.

Who is most likely to score?

Cole Caufield is my pick to score a goal. That is a prediction, not a certainty, but his 50-goal season makes him the clearest proven goal threat entering this matchup. He also scored twice against Ottawa in a September 21 preseason game, including the overtime winner.

Matthews is Toronto’s strongest answer. If the Maple Leafs generate sustained pressure, their captain has the finishing ability to decide the game himself. For Montreal, Caufield is the player Toronto can least afford to leave open.

What could decide the game?

The key is which team settles in first. Toronto has home ice and plenty of scoring talent, but its new combinations may need time to find their rhythm. Montreal can make that difficult by turning early chances into goals.

That makes the opening period especially revealing. If Toronto’s forwards connect quickly, McKenna’s debut could become part of a memorable home opener. If Montreal controls the early chances, Caufield has the finishing record to make Toronto pay.

Opening-night pick: McKenna is the player to watch, but Caufield is the best pick to score. The result is harder to call until the teams confirm their lineups and starting goaltenders.