Our roots run deep.
It’s the slogan that was emblazoned on towels placed on each seat at Scotiabank Arena as fans arrived for the Maple Leafs’ regular-season opener on Wednesday night.
Fitting, then, that the longest-serving Leafs player made the difference against the Montreal Canadiens in a 5-2 Toronto victory.
Defenceman Morgan Rielly, looking to rebound after a tough 2024-25, scored the winning goal at 9:02 of the third when he fired a pass from Matthew Knies over the left shoulder of Montreal goalie Samuel Montembeault. Auston Matthews and William Nylander both scored empty-net goals.
The Leafs have won 10 home openers in a row. They haven’t lost one since Oct. 7, 2015, when the Canadiens beat them 3-1 in Mike Babcock’s first game behind the Toronto bench.
Rielly was an offensive force, taking advantage of his instincts to jump into the play for several good chances.
After Zachary Bolduc scored off a rebound at 1:30 of the second, the Leafs’ Calle Jarnkrok beat Montembeault to make it 2-2.
Bobby McMann, who didn’t score in the final 11 regular-season games last year and then didn’t score in the Leafs’ 13 playoff games, gave Toronto a 1-0 lead one minute into the game when he tipped a Nylander shot.
Less than five minutes later, Oliver Kapanen scored short-handed for the visitors.
Anthony Stolarz made 28 saves in the Leafs net.