Canadiens beat Maple Leafs 3-2 in opener as Gavin McKenna and Kirill Marchenko debut for Toronto Josh Anderson and Alexandre Carrier each had a goal and an assist as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Tuesday in the regular-season opener for both teams. No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna and newly acquired Kirill Marchenko were among ten players making their Toronto debuts. TORONTO - Josh Anderson and Alexandre Carrier each had a goal and an assist as the Montreal Canadiens topped the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Tuesday in the regular-season opener for both teams. Zachary Bolduc also scored for Montreal, which got 25 saves from Jakub Dobes in the win at Scotiabank Arena. William Nylander scored both goals for Toronto, while Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 21 shots in his first game with the Maple Leafs. No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna and Russian winger Kirill Marchenko made their Toronto debuts, along with seven other teammates, following an off-season of change.Toronto Debutants Include Top PickMckenna, the top pick in the most recent NHL draft, was among ten players making their first appearance for the club. Marchenko was acquired Monday from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a blockbuster trade and debuted alongside McKenna. Defenceman Darren Raddysh and forwards Nick Paul, Jack Roslovic, Colton Sisson, Brandon Duhaim, Teddy Blueger and Zack MacEwen also played their first game for Toronto.Bobrovsky joined the Maple Leafs in an off-season of change and made his Toronto debut in the loss. The longtime Florida Panthers goaltender finished with 21 saves. Dobes turned aside 25 Toronto shots to earn the win in goal for Montreal. The Original Six franchise missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade last spring.The Canadiens are coming off a campaign that saw them take a massive step following a long and painful rebuild before falling to the Stanley Cup-winning Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final. Nylander opened the scoring just 48 seconds into the first period when he stepped around Montreal captain and reigning Selke Trophy winner Nick Suzuki at the blue line before ripping a shot upstairs.Bolduc Puts Canadiens AheadThe goal sent the Scotiabank Arena crowd into orbit and tied Zdenek Nedved for the fourth-fastest goal to start a season opener in franchise history. Anderson evened things at 10:53 when he batted a rebound out of mid-air in front of the net. Bolduc pushed Montreal ahead from the slot at 4:52 of the second. Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson cut to the net before sending the puck in front for Bolduc to fire past Bobrovsky for a 2-1 lead.Carrier fired past Bobrovsky's glove at 13:12 of the third period to extend the Montreal advantage. Nylander got one back for the Maple Leafs with 4:14 left in regulation, but the home side could not find an opening-night equalizer. For Montreal, Chris Kreider made his debut after signing before training camp following his release by the Anaheim Ducks. The Canadiens reached the Eastern Conference final last season before losing to the Hurricanes, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.Toronto's playoff drought extended to a decade last spring, prompting the off-season roster overhaul. The Maple Leafs return to action Wednesday when they host the New York Islanders. The Canadiens visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 29, 2026.