Our Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs preview covers the odds, puck line, total, puck drop time, TV channel and where to watch for NHL Opening Night on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10 in 2025-26) visit the Toronto Maple Leafs (32-36-14) at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ont. Puck drop is 7:00 PM ET (7:00 PM local). TV: Sportsnet / TVA Sports (Canada).

Opening Night storyline: This Original Six rivalry is the Canadiens and Maple Leafs’ 24th mutual season opener, extending the NHL record between two franchises, and their seventh in as many seasons since 2020-21 (NHL.com). The game could also feature the NHL debut of 2026 No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna. The odds are close: DraftKings has Toronto at -115 and Montreal at -105, with the total at 6.5.

Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs Odds, Puck Line & Game Info

Odds via DraftKings (through ESPN), cross-checked on Action Network, as of Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, ~5:30 PM PT. Lines move, so check your sportsbook before puck drop. Starting goalies were not confirmed at research time.

Montreal Canadiens Preview: Last Season, Offseason & Goalies

2025-26 recap: Montreal took a big step forward, going 48-24-10 (106 points) and finishing third in the Atlantic. The Canadiens won two playoff rounds, including a second-round series against Buffalo, before losing to the eventual champion Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final. Montreal averaged 3.44 goals per game, sixth in the NHL. Cole Caufield scored a career-high 51 goals (second in the league), and Ivan Demidov had 62 points as a 20-year-old before signing an eight-year extension on July 1.

Offseason moves: Longtime winger Brendan Gallagher was traded to Vancouver. Patrik Laine remains an unrestricted free agent, and Joe Veleno signed with the Rangers. Montreal added forward Brett Berard (from the Rangers) and defenseman Reilly Walsh.

Key players & coach: Captain Nick Suzuki centers Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky on one of the league’s top lines. Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson and Mike Matheson drive the blue line. Martin St. Louis enters his sixth season as head coach.

Goalies: Jakub Dobes took the No. 1 job last season, started all 19 playoff games and signed a three-year extension. Jacob Fowler went 9-6-2 with a 2.43 GAA and .908 save percentage in 17 games as a rookie.

Injuries: Demidov is day-to-day with a foot bruise from a blocked shot on Sept. 21. He returned to practice on Sept. 25 (TSN). Defenseman Kaiden Guhle is out with a groin injury (ESPN).

Toronto Maple Leafs Preview: A New Era Under Hiller

2025-26 recap: It was a lost season in Toronto. The Maple Leafs went 32-36-14 (78 points), finished last in the Atlantic and missed the playoffs. GM Brad Treliving was fired on March 30 and coach Craig Berube on May 13.

Offseason moves: John Chayka became GM on May 3, with Mats Sundin as special advisor, and Jim Hiller was named the franchise’s 41st head coach. Toronto won the draft lottery and took Gavin McKenna No. 1 overall (51 points in 31 games at Penn State). The club also signed Sergei Bobrovsky to a three-year deal and landed defenseman Darren Raddysh (22 goals, 70 points with Tampa Bay) in a sign-and-trade. Other additions include Nick Paul, Jack Roslovic (21 goals with Edmonton), Emil Andrae, Teddy Blueger, Colton Sissons and Brandon Duhaime. Joseph Woll, Brandon Carlo, Simon Benoit, Nicholas Robertson, Matias Maccelli and Dennis Hildeby are gone.

Key players & coach: Captain Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, Matthew Knies and Morgan Rielly lead the roster. Chris Tanev, limited to 11 games last season, is healthy after core muscle surgery. Hiller previously coached the Los Angeles Kings (2023-26) and was a Maple Leafs assistant from 2015 to 2019.

Goalies: Bobrovsky, who turned 38 this month, went 27-23-1 with a 3.07 GAA and .877 save percentage for Florida last season. Anthony Stolarz, his former backup in Florida, is projected as the No. 2.

Injuries: Dakota Joshua (abdomen) and Nick Paul (undisclosed) are day-to-day. Max Domi (back) and William Villeneuve (knee) are out (ESPN).

How to Watch Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Puck drop: 7:00 PM ET (7:00 PM local)
Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ont.
TV: Sportsnet (English) and TVA Sports (French) in Canada. NHL.com and ESPN list no U.S. national broadcast for this game.

Check the puck line, moneyline and total above against your sportsbook before the September 29, 2026 puck drop, and look for confirmed starting goalies closer to game time.