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Goaltending was the big story on the Maple Leafs' season-opening morning, but the lack of goals ended on a sour note.
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Although surprise starter Anthony Stolarz made big stops with Joseph Woll ending up on injured reserve, Toronto's big players couldn't solve Samuel Montembeault. He made 48 saves, one on Auston Matthews' buzzer-beater, also denying the Leafs on four power plays in a 1-0 tie.
The Leafs had an NHL-best streak of 227 games without being shut out, with Montembeault's save total being the most in any NHL debut. A man-advantage strike from Cole Caufield in the first period stood out.
The Canadiens, their staff and musicians introduced one by one by a live orchestra and rock band, were excited from the first period. Both head coaches, Craig Berube in his first game with Toronto and Martin St. Louis in the next chapter of the Habs' rebuild, started their top lines. After years in which the playoff-bound Leafs received plenty of support at the Bell Centre, the home fans were louder, giving raspberries to last year's Rocket Richard Trophy scoring champion, Matthews, and former Hab Max Domi and his number 1 target, once. captain Max Pacioretty on his Leaf debut.
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Montembeault, trying to secure the top job in Montreal, kept the Leafs at bay while Matthews, William Nylander and Oliver Ekman-Larsson all hit the post. Stolarz, a reserve for the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, kept the Habs from running away by putting his 6-foot-2 frame in front of good looks. Caufield beat him when Juraj Slafkovsky sent a crosscourt pass over Oliver Ekman-Larsson's stick.
That reversed an 0-for-30 power play in exhibition games for Montreal, while Toronto only allowed one against in 25 chances. But Stolarz and a penalty group led by Pontus Holmberg and Simon Benoit closed out a 5-on-3 for a minute and a half midway through the period. Ekman-Larsson left the area on the run, but rushed and was stopped. Pacioretty drew two penalties.
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The Leafs are expected to quickly advance to Thursday night in New Jersey against their former coach Sheldon Keefe. Dennis Hildeby is likely to make his first NHL start after being called up when the Woll news broke earlier in the day. The 2022 draft pick was also drafted last year but saw no game action.
It was the first time the Leafs lost 1-0 in their season opener since 1957, when they were defeated at Chicago Stadium by the Blackhawks. The Leafs' overall record in Game 1 against the Canadiens is now 15-12-1.
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