National Hockey League
Montreal 1, Toronto 0
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Where: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec
Referees: Jon McIsaac, Dan O'Rourke
Linesmen: Tyson Baker, James Tobias
Attendance: 21105

Sam Montembeault made 48 saves, Cole Caufield scored and the Montreal Canadiens beat the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs 1-0 on Wednesday in the season opener for both teams.

The Maple Leafs had gone 227 consecutive regular season games without being shut out, the longest active streak in the NHL, but Montreal spoiled coach Craig Berube's Maple Leafs debut.

Montembeault logged his second career shutout. The other occurred on Feb. 23, 2022, in a 4-0 win against the Buffalo Sabres.

Anthony Stolarz made 26 saves for Toronto, as Joseph Woll did not start in goal because of a lower-body injury. Goalie Dennis Hildeby was recalled from Toronto of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis to back up Stolarz.

Montreal went 1-for-5 on the power play while Toronto was 0-for-4.

Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews led the Maple Leafs with six shots on goal each.

Former Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty played 13:24 and had two shots on goal in his Maple Leafs debut.

The Canadiens scored the lone goal on a power play at 7:48 of the first period. Kirby Dach fed Juraj Slafkovsky below the goal line. Slafkovsky got the puck to Caufield, who one-timed the puck past Stolarz from the right post.

Stolarz stopped an attempt by Alex Newhook from the slot at 10:30 of the third period to keep the Leafs' deficit at one.

Montembeault stopped Steven Lorentz alone in front at 12:05 of the third period.

The Maple Leafs, who scored an NHL-high 11 six-on-five goals last season, including one on opening night against the Canadiens, pulled Stolarz with more than two minutes remaining. However, they were unable to convert as Montembeault made several saves in front as the last minute, including one on Matthews in the final seconds.

Toronto outshot Montreal 13-6 in the second period but was unable to convert. Montembeault robbed Matthews with his glove early in the second. Later in the period, Matthews banged a shot off the post.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Toronto   Montreal
N/A Points Cole Caufield 1
N/A Goals Cole Caufield 1
N/A Assists Kirby Dach 1
N/A Power Play Goals Cole Caufield 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Anthony Stolarz .963 Save Percentage Sam Montembeault 1.000
Anthony Stolarz 26 Saves Sam Montembeault 48
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Toronto 48 0 0-4 4-5 10 24
Montreal 27 1 1-5 4-4 8 12
Upcoming Games
  • Montreal will play their next game on the road against Boston. The Canadiens have a W/L % of .000 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.
  • Toronto will play their next game on the road against New Jersey. The Maple Leafs have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.