Canadiens vs Maple Leafs: Game thread, rosters, lines, and how to watch

Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

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Start time: 7:00 p.m. EDT / 4:00 p.m. PDT
In Canada: Sportsnet (English), TVA sports (French)
Stream: ESPN+, Sportsnet now

The 2022-23 season begins for the Montreal Canadiens at home against their Toronto rivals.

This year’s season debut finds teams in very different places: the Maple Leafs are confident in their roster and expect their group to finally take the next step and challenge for a Stanley Cup, the Habs begin to battle their way back into the league one Harvesting very young talent.

Montreal will have three rookies making NHL debuts. On the blue line, one of the best prospects, Kaiden Guhle, will begin his career as a top pair defender, and Arber Xhekaj is turning an exceptional 2021-22 season in the OHL into a starting role as well. The defensive corps also consists of Jordan Harris and Johnny Kovacevic, who have 14 games of combined NHL experience.

Up front, Juraj Slafkovský will take center stage after being selected as the overall pick of the NHL Draft. He made steady progress throughout preseason and starts with two very capable linemates in Christian Dvorak and Brendan Gallagher who should help him get into a tough matchup right off the bat.

The proposed lineup of the Montreal Canadiens

scratched: Jonathan Drouin, Michael Pezzetta
Hurt: Joel Armia, Paul Byron, Joel Edmundson, Mike Matheson

The expected lineup of the Toronto Maple Leafs