The Montreal Canadiens opened their NHL preseason with a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in a split-squad game Saturday night. The game saw the professional debut of Gavin McKenna, the first-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft by the Maple Leafs.
Maksymilian Szuber scored the game-winning goal for Montreal in the third period, with Phillip Danault adding two goals, including an empty-netter, and Samuel Poulin contributing one. Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault made 13 saves for the shutout. On the Maple Leafs side, Darren Raddysh scored their lone goal. Goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz combined for 26 saves.
McKenna, who has generated significant excitement as a top prospect, played alongside veteran forwards John Tavares and William Nylander. Toronto's lineup featured a strong core of established NHL players, while Montreal opted for a younger squad in this particular matchup. The Canadiens are coming off a strong performance in the previous season, having reached the Eastern Conference final.
This preseason game provides an early look at both teams as they gear up for the upcoming NHL season. McKenna's debut signifies an important step in his development as he transitions to professional hockey, facing a Toronto team aiming to build on its recent successes. The split-squad format allowed both franchises to assess a wider range of players early in their training camps.
