The Montreal Canadiens secured a hard-fought victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in their season opener, thwarting the highly anticipated debut of a new coach. The win marked a strong start for the Canadiens, while also overshadowing the first game under the leadership of the team’s newly appointed head coach. Fans and analysts had been closely watching how the team would adapt to fresh management, but the Leafs’ struggles on the ice left little room for celebration in Toronto. The matchup highlighted early season competitiveness in the NHL as both squads look to build momentum heading into the winter.

Canadiens hold off Maple Leafs in opener to spoil McKenna debut  NHL.com