Mitch Marner scored the only goal in the shootout and the Montreal Canadiens’ season began with a 6-5 loss to the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Wednesday.
Third of his team to start, the hockey player from Markham hit the target in the top of the net. Ilya Samsonov then frustrated Kirby Dach, sealing the victory for his team.
Auston Matthews scored three goals, including the 300th of his career.
Noah Gregor and William Nylander scored the other Maple Leafs goals, while Samsonov blocked 19 shots.
For CH, newcomer Alex Newhook stood out with two goals.
Cole Caufield, Jake Evans and Jesse Ylönen were the other scorers, while Jake Allen made 37 saves.
The Habs were heading for a 5-3 win before Matthews’ last two goals, in the last five minutes of regular time.
“It’s a big point abroad,” observed CH head coach Martin St-Louis. It was a match of ups and downs…. we thought we had a 3-0 lead. I’m happy with the battle we fought. »
Matthews closed the gap from a difficult angle at 15:27, before scoring his eighth career hat trick with 1:07 on the clock.
“There were a lot of positives,” said St-Louis. We will correct the mistakes and we will move forward. »
Evans gave the Habs a 1-0 lead at 3:01 in the first period, on a breakaway. He was able to slip away alone after TJ Brodie messed up at his blue line.
A 27-year-old Torontonian, Evans scored in the top of the net after a nice feint.
A little later, Calle Jarnkrok was punished for holding back. During the superiority, the Canadian’s best chance came from a dangerous shot from Mike Matheson.
Arber Xhekaj and Ryan Reaves dropped the gloves midway through the first period. There wasn’t really a winner, but young Xhekaj didn’t look bad at all.
Newhook doubled the cushion 1:10 into the middle period, completing a three-on-one.
Dach started the recovery. Once in the center of the opponent’s zone, he slipped down the middle to Juraj Slafkovsky, whose pass was redirected by Newhook. The former Colorado Avalanche got his first goal with CH.
At 5:50, we thought the visitors had taken a three-goal cushion when Caufield scored from the right circle, thanks to a clever pass from Sean Monahan.
Toronto, however, successfully protested, having spotted an offside.
The Maple Leafs closed the gap midway through the period, with the help of a long wrist shot from Gregor. Posted near the blue line, he caught a live pass from John Klingberg.
Matthews then tied the game with his 300th NHL goal at 14:51 in the second period.
A Mitchell Marner shot sailed in front of the goal, then Matthews took the opportunity to beat Allen with a high shot.
Late in the second period, Allen made a great save against William Nylander. The sequence began with the interception of a cross pass from Jordan Harris.
Nylander would face Evans in the penalty box, with 44 seconds remaining in the engagement.
Klingberg passed to him and Nylander hit the target with a one-timer from the right circle.
The Leafs put pressure on early in the third period where, after five minutes and a dusting of play, the shot count stood at 30-13 in favor of the Toronto club.
“We bent but we didn’t break,” said St-Louis. We managed a good push afterwards. »
The effort resulted in Caufield’s equalizing shot at 4:25, on the power play. Matheson sent him the puck in the slot and the captain’s shot deflected against TJ Brodie’s stick, before entering the net. The score then became 3-3.
Newhook completed his double 1:22 later, deflecting a point shot from Xhekaj. Dach and Slafkovsky did a good job on the forecheck.
Xhekaj shined midway through the third period, taking the puck away from Matthew Knies with a solid shoulder shot in the slot.
The Habs added what looked like an insurance goal at 11:55, the result of a Timothy Liljegren scramble. Rafaël Harvey-Pinard was able to pass to Ylönen, who threaded the needle with a magnificent backhand.
Matthews, however, gave a completely different look to the match.
“The Leafs are a very good team,” Dach said. They will benefit when we give them time and space. »
Allen was superb in overtime: once stretching the stick, as well as twice with high-level saves including one against Matthews, alone in front of him.
The Canadian will kick off the local portion of his schedule on Saturday evening, against Chicago.