Toronto vs Montreal Prediction 8 October 2025
📣 Just as the new NHL regular season gets underway, we're treated to a Canadian derby on the second day of the championship. The Maple Leafs, who will look unfamiliar without one of the league's top playmakers, Mitchell Marner, are set to host Montreal at the Scotiabank Arena. The Canadiens are pinning their hopes on Ivan Demidov, the fifth overall pick in the 2024 draft.
Head-to-Head
Last season, the Maple Leafs and the Canadiens faced off four times, with the Leafs coming out on top in three of those encounters. Exactly a year ago, Caufield and company edged Toronto with a 1-0 shutout victory. On that occasion, goaltender Sam Montembeault made an incredible 48 saves and was named the first star of the game. In the following matchups, the Canadiens suffered heavy defeats, losing by more than three goals. By mid-April, the Leafs returned the favor to the Reds with a shutout of their own. Mitch Marner, who we all know moved to Vegas over the summer, scored the decisive goal in overtime. Recently, these Canadian teams played two preseason games, exchanging road victories. On September 26, the Leafs delivered a high-scoring performance, with bottom-six forwards Lorentz and Laughton each netting a brace.
Head-to-head statistics Toronto - Montreal
Toronto Maple Leafs Team Overview
Last season, Craig Berube's team finished second in the East, only to be knocked out in the playoff quarterfinals by the eventual champions, Florida (3-4). During the offseason, apart from parting ways with Marner, they also saw the departures of veteran Pacioretty and enforcer Reaves. The "Leafs" strengthened their roster with Nic Roy from Vegas and Matias Maccelli from Utah. In their preseason campaign, the "Blues" played six games but managed just two victories. Besides the successful match against Montreal, which has already been mentioned, the "Leafs" also edged out Ottawa (4-3). AHL players Barbolini and Villeneuve each scored a goal but failed to impress the coaching staff and will start the upcoming season in the second-tier league. In the upcoming game against the "Canadians," goalie Wall and forward Laughton will be unavailable.
Match Results: Toronto Maple Leafs
Montreal Canadiens Team Overview
Last season, the Reds made the playoffs for the first time in a while, securing the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference, finishing two points ahead of ninth-placed Columbus. In the first round of the playoffs, Suzuki and his squad faced off against Alexander Ovechkin's Washington. Despite the efforts of Martin St. Louis and his team, the Capitals proved superior, winning the series 4-1. Over the summer, the Canadian club's management decided to part ways with players like Dvorak, Armia, Heineman, and Primeau. They managed to acquire forward Bolduc from St. Louis, and their marquee signing was arguably Noah Dobson, who, alongside Hutson, is expected to orchestrate from the blue line and supply pucks to the speedy Caufield and Demidov. However, it's worth noting that left winger Bolduc might miss the season opener due to a lower-body injury.
Match Results: Montreal Canadiens
🏒 Projected Lineups
Toronto: Stolarz - Reilly, Carlo - Knies, Matthews, Maccelli
Montreal: Montembeault - Matheson, Dobson - Caufield, Suzuki, Slafkovsky
🥅 Goalies
It looks like 31-year-old Anthony Stolarz will be the starting goaltender for the Leafs this season. Entering his ninth season in the NHL, Stolarz secured 21 wins in 33 games last regular season and recorded four shutouts.
For the Canadiens, we expect Sam Montembeault to be between the pipes. Last regular season, he posted a goals-against average of 2.82 and achieved four shutouts in 62 games. A year ago, Montembeault managed to shut down the formidable Matthews and Nylander, preventing the star forwards from scoring any goals.
Editorial Prediction
Under the guidance of Martin St-Louis, the team has repeatedly shown their ability to fight to the end against Canadian teams. The Leafs have a chance to win, but a blowout against the Reds in one of hockey's oldest derbies seems improbable. We recommend considering a Montreal win with a +1.5 handicap. The Blues' attack without Mitchell Marner lacks its former threat, and defensive lapses, evident since the preseason, continue to be a concern.
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Betting Tips: Toronto Maple Leafs - Montreal Canadiens
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