Canadiens: Dobes, penalty kill power comeback win over Maple Leafs

The Montreal Canadiens started their 2026-27 campaign with a come-from-behind win at Scotiabank Arena, overcoming an early Toronto Maple Leafs strike to leave with a road victory. After a shaky opening stretch, Montreal tightened up at five-on-five and leaned on an assertive penalty kill and strong goaltending from Jakub Dobes to control the final two periods.

Nylander’s early strike answered by Anderson’s opener

Toronto struck just seconds into the game when William Nylander beat Jakub Dobes with a high shot over the glove after slipping past Nick Suzuki at the blue line and exploiting loose coverage from Noah Dobson. The Canadiens were slow out of the gate, generating little offence at first despite an early power play created by a hook on Jayden Struble.

Montreal did not convert on that man advantage, but found their first goal at even strength. Kirby Dach battled for the puck near the side of the net, sending it into the air in front, where Josh Anderson knocked it home for the Canadiens’ first goal of the season. From there, Montreal began to tilt the ice, forcing icings and limiting Toronto’s clean exits, while an early penalty taken by Ivan Demidov led to a more aggressive penalty kill that stood up the Leafs at the blue line.

By the end of the opening frame, the shot clock that had heavily favoured Toronto early had nearly evened out, reflecting the Canadiens’ improved play as they settled into the game.

Bolduc and Carrier strike as Dobes steadies the crease

In the second period, Kirill Marchenko tried to give the Leafs another quick surge, only for Dobes to flash the glove on a one-timer. At the other end, Zachary Bolduc was set up in the slot by Jake Evans and was stopped once by the blocker before later finding space on the opposite side and beating the Toronto goaltender for Montreal’s next marker.

The Canadiens were pinned for a long shift in their own zone soon after, but Phillip Danault’s smart two-way play helped them escape without damage. Tempers rose when Alex Newhook and Jake McCabe traded cross-checks in front of the net, leading to four-on-four play. Demidov later generated a rush chance with a quick stick in the neutral zone, briefly halting Toronto’s push, while a penalty by Cole Caufield in the offensive zone handed the Leafs another power play that Montreal’s penalty killers handled effectively to keep a one-goal lead through forty minutes.

The third period began with more chances for Nylander, who narrowly missed once and later tried to repeat his first-period goal only to be denied by Dobes. A drawn penalty by Evans gave Montreal a chance to pull away; Juraj Slafkovsky nearly did so, catching the Toronto goalie out of position but ringing his shot off the post.

Alexandre Texier then took an interference penalty after pinning his man along the boards instead of recovering a loose puck, and Montreal’s aggressive penalty kill again disrupted Toronto’s top unit. Shortly afterward, defenceman Alexandre Carrier, already prominent on the PK, took a point shot that the goalie did not track, restoring a two-goal cushion for the visitors.

Nylander’s second not enough as Canadiens close it out

Nylander cut into the lead with his second of the night, finishing a give-and-go with Easton Cowan in front, but the Leafs struggled to turn late pressure into truly dangerous looks. Montreal managed the clock with a series of clearances, then earned an offensive-zone faceoff with under 10 seconds to play to help seal the result.

At the final buzzer, Dobes reacted to John Tavares’s stick caught on his arm, pulling it away and drawing a shove from the Toronto captain, sparking a brief post-whistle scrum before the Canadiens gathered around their goaltender to celebrate the opening-night win. The schedule now gives Montreal three days off before their next test on Saturday, when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins.