The Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens will kick off the 2025-26 NHL season with a battle at Scotiabank Arena.
Toronto finished with a record of 52-26-4 (108 points) last season and lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Florida Panthers, while Montreal went 40-31-11 (91 points) and lost in the first round to the Washington Capitals.
Four of the Maple Leafs' best players from the 2024-25 squad are back in Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and Matthew Knies. However, Mitch Marner joined the Vegas Golden Knights in the offseason as part of a sign-and-trade deal.
The Canadiens have a young core led by Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, and they added defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders in June.
Here is what you need to know about the NHL matchup between the Canadiens and Maple Leafs, including TV and streaming options for the game.
What channel is Leafs vs. Canadiens on tonight?
- TV channel: N/A
- Live stream: ESPN+
Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens will not air on a national TV channel. Hockey fans can stream the game on ESPN+.
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Leafs vs. Canadiens start time
- Date: Wednesday, Oct. 8
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens will start at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 8. The game will be played at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Leafs vs. Canadiens radio station
- Radio station: SiriusXM channel 91
Fans can listen to the Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens broadcast live on SiriusXM. Coverage will be available on channel 91.
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Leafs schedule 2025-26
Here are the next five games on Toronto's 2025-26 schedule:
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 8 | vs. Canadiens | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 11 | at Red Wings | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 13 | vs. Red Wings | 4 p.m. |
| Oct. 14 | vs. Predators | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 16 | vs. Rangers | 7 p.m. |
Canadiens schedule 2025-26
Here are the next five games on Montreal's 2025-26 schedule:
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 8 | at Maple Leafs | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 9 | at Red Wings | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 11 | at Blackhawks | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 14 | vs. Kraken | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 16 | vs. Predators | 7 p.m. |