Maple Leafs open season vs. Canadiens as Gavin McKenna makes NHL debut

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens will waste no time renewing their rivalry as they square off on opening night of the NHL season Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET in Toronto. The game is one of two Original Six matchups to launch the 2026‑27 campaign and will also feature the much‑anticipated NHL debut of 2026 first overall pick Gavin McKenna in a Maple Leafs uniform.

Rivals meet again to start the schedule

This year’s opener continues a recent tradition, marking the seventh straight season that Montreal and Toronto begin their schedules against each other and the fifth time in that span that Scotiabank Arena hosts the curtain‑raiser. In last season’s opener, the Canadiens left Toronto on the wrong end of a 5‑2 scoreline, but they responded by winning the final three meetings between the Atlantic Division foes.

Across those four games in 2025‑26, the two clubs hit the seven‑goal mark twice, a scoring trend that factors into how betting models view Tuesday’s contest. The SportsLine Projection Model expects offence to be in good supply again and is leaning toward the total going Over 6.5 goals. In simulations, that side cashes nearly 59% of the time, earning an "A" grade from the model as its preferred total play on the board.

McKenna draws spotlight as experts back Toronto

Beyond the history between the franchises, most of the spotlight will fall on McKenna as he officially begins his NHL career. Toronto is looking to bounce back after missing the playoffs last season for the first time since 2015‑16, and the organization is counting on its newest top pick to inject fresh energy into a lineup that underperformed expectations.

SportsLine expert Jeff Hochman is siding with the Maple Leafs to pick up a win in McKenna’s debut on home ice, recommending Toronto on the moneyline. Hochman views the Canadiens as a team that "overachieved last season" and sees this opener as an opportunity for the Leafs to reassert themselves within the Atlantic Division while capitalizing on their offensive weapons.

For Montreal, the matchup offers a chance to extend its recent regular‑season success against Toronto and spoil the party around McKenna’s first game. For the Maple Leafs, turning the buzz around their prized rookie into an opening‑night victory would be an ideal first step toward re‑establishing themselves as a contender in the Eastern Conference.