Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens final score, results: Josh Anderson’s late goal lifts Montreal to a season-opening win

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Games between the Maple Leafs and Canadiens are always entertaining, and Wednesday night’s season opener for the two Canadian clubs did not disappoint, as Montreal grabbed a 4-3 win at the Bell Centre. 

Josh Anderson scored with 19 seconds left in the contest to lift the Habs to the victory. It was a crazy final two minutes, as Sean Monahan initially put the Canadiens up 3-2 with a goal with 2:30 left, however 40 seconds later, William Nylander tied the game. But it was Anderson who was the hero, potting the game-winner with under 20 seconds left. 

Cole Caufield had the first two goals of the game for Montreal, and Nick Suzuki finished with two assists. Jake Allen made 29 saves in his first win of the year. 

In addition to Nylander, the Maple Leafs received goals from Michael Bunting and Denis Malgin in the loss. John Tavares dished out two assists and Matt Murray made 19 saves on the 23 shots he faced in his first game as a Leaf. 

MORE: Watch the 2022-23 NHL season on ESPN+

The Sporting News provided updates and highlights for the Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens opening night game. 

Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens score

Matchup P1 P2 P3 OT F
Maple Leafs 1 1 1 – 3
Canadiens 0 2 2 – 4

Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens live updates, highlights 

Final: Canadiens 4, Maple Leafs 3

9:57 p.m. — What a chaotic ending at the Bell Centre, but it results in a win for the Canadiens. Montreal did not win a single preseason game, but the club knocks off Cup favorites Toronto in the season opener. Josh Anderson’s goal late is the difference maker. 

9:54 p.m. — GOAL! Josh Anderson rips one over the glove of Murray and with 17.9 seconds left, the Canadiens re-take the lead. What a wild last three minutes at the Bell Centre. Suzuki with a nice fake shot to then slide it over to Anderson who rips it off the post and in. 

9:51 p.m. — Martin St. Louis calls a timeout, as he wants more time to decide whether or not to challenge the Nylander goal for offsides. It looked real close on the replay. Ultimately, no review and it’s a tie game with under two minutes to go. 

9:49 p.m. — GOAL! Just 40 seconds after the Monahan goal, Nylander ties the game again. A bad turnover off the rush by Dadonov leads to a 2 on 1 the other way. Tavares dished out a nice pass to send Nylander alone and he is able to squeak one through Allen to tie the game with 1:50 left in regulation. 

9:47 p.m. — GOAL! It’s the birthday boy coming through clutch for Montreal, as Monahan pots his first goal as a Canadian. Harris’ shot from the point goes off Muzzin’s skate and right to Monahan, who fires it past Murray, It’s 3-2 Canadiens with 2:30 left. 

9:46 p.m. — Plenty of pressure by the Leafs on the power play, but they cannot find twine. Nylander had the puck in the slot before an excellent stick play by Monahan negated a shot attempt. Matthews and Bunting each had chances with shots from the slot as well, but they were turned aside. 

9:42 p.m. — Toronto is heading to a power play with under six minutes left in the third, as Jordan Harris is whistled for high-sticking. No goals on the previous three chances for the Leafs on the PP. 

9:37 p.m. — Great effort by Brendan Gallagher to get a chance all alone. A loose puck pops out into the neutral zone from the Montreal end, and the Habs forward uses his speed to win the foot race and get a look on Murray, but it clangs the post. Still 2-2 with under seven to go. 

9:29 p.m. — An unsuccessful power play for Toronto, who are 0 for 3 on the night. The team ranked first in the league last season on the man advantage. 

9:25 p.m. — Early power play for the Maple Leafs here in the third. Monahan gets his stick up high on Justin Holl and he’ll sit for high-sticking. 

End second period: Maple Leafs 2, Canadiens 2

8:58 p.m. — After two periods, we have an even 2-2 game. Montreal was much better in that period, getting two goals from Caufield. Murray has been the best Leaf on the ice and one of the better players, keeping the Maple Leafs in this one so far. 

8:54 p.m. — Big stop by Allen on the penalty shot. Kerfoot goes to the right, comes back down the middle and tries to beat Allen over the blocker, but a big save by the Habs goalie. 

8:54 p.m. — Kerfoot draws a penalty shot for Toronto. He gets in past the defensemen thanks to a great feed from Rielly, but Xhekaj is called for hooking. A chance for the Leafs to regain the lead. 

8:53 p.m. — A lengthy review by the officials, but it is ruled no goal. 

8:48 p.m. — Nearly another goal for the Habs, as a defensive zone turnover goes to Dach, who attempts a wraparound, but it’s stopped by Murray. The Maple Leafs goalie somehow keeps the puck out of the net with his body along the goal line. 

8:46 p.m. — GOAL! Down at the other end, it’s Caufield again, this time on a 3 on 2. He looks pass first, but both option were covered so he rips it by the glove of Murray. Tie game with four minutes left in the second. 

8:46 p.m. — Malgin breaks a breakaway after a great stretch feed, but his shot hits the post. 

8:43 p.m. — Two good looks on the PP, both by Suzuki, but Murray stands tall and Toronto remains in front. 

8:39 p.m. — Montreal heads back to the power play as Alexander Kerfoot is called for interference. The Habs are 0 for 3 so far on the night. 

8:36 p.m. — GOAL! The Maple Leafs regain the lead, as Denis Malgin pots home a rebound in front. Tavares whacks at a loose puck from a Nylander shot and it goes right to Malgin, who drove the net and stood right in front and was rewarded, 2-1 Maple Leafs. 

8:34 p.m. — The intensity is picking up in this one. The defensemen are becoming a lot more active in the play and haven’t been afraid to step up on an opponent and lay a hit. 

8:27 p.m. — Toronto gets its first full power play of the night, as Rem Pitlick will sit for two for hooking. 

8:21 p.m. — GOAL! Just 33 seconds into the second and Caufield finishes off a 2 on 1 with Suzuki. He beats Murray high on the glove side, finding the back bar of the net. An excellent start to the middle frame for Montreal. 

End first period: Maple Leafs 1, Canadiens 0

8:02 p.m. — After 20 minutes, it’s 1-0 Maple Leafs. It wasn’t an overly impressive period from Toronto, but Murray looked sharp in net. An excellent chance for Suzuki and Caufield on a 2 on 1 in the final seconds, but his shot attempt misses a wide open net. Shots are 8-8. 

7:55 p.m. — Back to even strength, nothing doing for either side on their respective man advantages. 

7:51 p.m. — That will do it for the Canadiens’ power play as Chris Widemen is called for interference. It will be 4 on 4 for 1:14 before the Maple Leafs get their first crack on the PP. Murray making a couple of big stops during the shortened man advantage chance for the Habs. 

7:47 p.m. — For the third time this period, Toronto is handed another penalty. This time, it’s Rasmus Sandin sent off for tripping Slafkovsky. Montreal is 0 for 2 so far tonight on the man advantage. 

7:45 p.m. — GOAL! The top line for Toronto gets the job done, as Mitch Marner finds an open Bunting in front of the net for the goal. Looks like the Montreal defense got caught puck watching and no one had Bunting covered. 

7:44 p.m. — The Canadiens have been the better team so far, thanks a lot to their young defensemen looking strong. Jordan Harris, Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xhekaj all look like they belong so far, stepping up in the play and playing physical as well. 

7:38 p.m. — A much better power play by the Canadiens, getting some chances and shots on Murray, but they can not score. 

7:36 p.m. — Great glove save by Murray on Caufield. Montreal is able to keep the puck in at the blue line, then Josh Anderson flicks a backhand across to Caufield, who slings it on net and into the glove of Murray. 

7:35 p.m. — Another power play for the Habs, as Michael Bunting will sit for two minutes for holding Nick Suzuki. Cole Caufield put the first shot on net against Matt Murray on the delayed call, a solid blocker stop. 

7:32 p.m. — Back to even strength, not a good power play for the Habs. No shots on goal and no real sustained time in the Toronto zone. 

7:30 p.m. — Just over two minutes into the game, and the Canadiens head to the power play. Mark Giordano is called for interference against Evgenii Dadonov. 

7:26 p.m. — After the Habs finished announcing all their players for their opening roster, we are finally underway at the Bell Centre. 

Pregame

7:03 p.m. — And here is the starting lines for both teams. 

6:50 p.m. — Here’s the opening lineups for the Maple Leafs and Canadiens. Tavares is in for Toronto. 

6:35 p.m. — Rookie lap for three of the Canadiens, as Juraj Slafkovsky, Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xhekaj make their NHL debuts tonight. 

5:30 p.m. — It looks as if Matt Murray will get the start in goal for the Maple Leafs. He and Ilya Samsonov are expected to split duties to begin the season. John Tavares, who was expected to miss the first week with an oblique injury, is expected to play.

What time is Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens?

  • Time: 7 p.m. ET
  • Location: Bell Centre

The puck drop for the Maple Leafs and Canadiens game is set for 7 p.m. ET. The game will be played at Bell Centre in Montreal. 

What channel is Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens on?

  • TV channel: Sportsnet (Canada)

Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens is available to watch live on Sportsnet in Canada. 

It will not air on TV for viewers in the United States, but it is available to stream. 

How to live stream Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens

Fans in the United States can stream Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens on fuboTV, which offers a free trial.

Viewers in Canada can stream the game on SN NOW.

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