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# Preview: Leafs host Montréal
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/preview-leafs-host-montreal-season-opener/
- Published: 2025-10-08T16:14:10.000Z
- Updated: 2025-10-08T16:14:10.000Z
- Description: Sixth straight year of this matchup leading off the season.
- Author: Cathy Squires
- Tags: Game Coverage

### Montréal Canadiens @ Toronto Maple Leafs  
07:00 PM at Scotiabank Arena  
Watch on: SN1, TVAS

### 

The TV broadcast schedule for Sportsnet has the Leafs game on SN1, with the Blue Jays ADLS Game 4 on the main channel – older NHL schedules had the Leafs on the main channel. That Jays game is listed as a 6 pm start, but that includes a big pregame blather buffer while the official start time of the game is 7:08 pm. Both games will be on Sportsnet+ (non-premium version). 

MLB.com lists the Jays game as on FS1 in the US. The Leafs game is listed on ESPN+ in the US. 

### Them

I don't think we got a serious look at the Canadiens in preseason, but they aren't dramatically different to last year. Lane Hutson is their best player, and they severely lack several skillsets at forward. They are as good as Monembeault is on any given night. 

#### Lines

Eric Engels via [Daily Faceoff](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/montreal-canadiens/line-combinations/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) from two days ago.

Cole Caufield - Nick Suzuki - Juraj Slafkovský  
Alex Newhook - Oliver Kapanen - Ivan Demidov  
Zack Bolduc - Kirby Dach - Brendan Gallagher  
Patrik Laine - Jake Evans - Josh Anderson

Mike Matheson - Noah Dobson  
Kaiden Guhle - Lane Hutson  
Arber Xhekaj - Alexandre Carrier

Sam Montembeault  
Jakub Dobes

Joe Veleno and Jayden Struble are also on the roster. 

### Us

No new guys in the lineup tonight unless you count Cayden Primeau as backup. We should expect Sammy Blais to appear in a game after a few practices.

> Maple Leafs F Jacob Quillan has been assigned to the Toronto Marlies (AHL).   
>  
> F Easton Cowan has been recalled from the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
> 
> — Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) [October 8, 2025](https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1975909091437613401?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

The lines below are from the most recent practice, with a vibe of "will the real fourth line stand up" about the bottom six. Cowan is not playing tonight.

There are no changes on defence from late last season, and even with new players and – stop me if you've heard this – no Mitch Marner, the only major change to the team structure is placement on the first power play unit. 

Matias Maccelli got his spot on the top line on merit, but also by the simple fact that there is no one else. Even though his preseason was excellent, this is a big ask for him to take on this role.

This roster feels so unfinished, and I think the Leafs feel that way too, but will it be possible to add to it? Not in a hurry, I wouldn't think. I find myself not even trying to judge how the team will fare early this season, it's like trying to tell what colour the walls are before the paint is dry.

Wait and see. 

#### Lines

David Alter via [Daily Faceoff](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/toronto-maple-leafs/line-combinations/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Matthew Knies - Auston Matthews - Matias Maccelli  
Bobby McMann - John Tavares - William Nylander  
Dakota Joshua - Max Domi - Nicholas Robertson  
Steven Lorentz - Nicolas Roy - Calle Järnkrok

Morgan Rielly - Brandon Carlo  
Jake McCabe - Chris Tanev  
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Simon Benoit

Anthony Stolarz  
Cayden Primeau

### The Game

Long opening introductions never make for great hockey games, but it does give us time to watch the first at bats of the Jays game.

Go Leafs/Jays Go!