Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montréal Canadiens Picks and Predictions October 8th 2025

Maple Leafs vs Canadiens Season-Opener Betting Preview

The Toronto Maple Leafs open their 2025-26 campaign at Scotiabank Arena against the rival Montreal Canadiens marking a new era without longtime winger Mitchell Marner. Toronto traded Marner to Vegas in the offseason after failing to reach a long-term extension.

Auston Matthews, who leads the Leafs’ veteran core, said the team is focused on the future. Toronto has made the playoffs nine straight years but hasn’t advanced past Round 2 in pursuit of its first Stanley Cup since 1967.

Montreal enters with growing expectations after a strong finish last year behind captain Nick Suzuki and Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson. The Canadiens added defenseman Noah Dobson and expect rookie Ivan Demidov to contribute immediately. Coach Martin St. Louis believes his team is “not starting over, just continuing to build.”

Toronto went 3-1-0 against Montreal last season, and the rivalry remains one of the NHL’s most watched matchups. For full previews of early-season games, check out the NHL previews page

Line Movement and Odds

According to the latest NHL odds, Toronto opened around -175 on the moneyline, with Montreal priced near +155. The total is holding steady at 6.5 goals.

Public money favors the Maple Leafs on the moneyline, while sharp bettors have targeted Montreal +1.5 on the puck line. The total opened with slight action toward the over, as both offenses ranked top 10 in high-danger chances last season.

If you’re comparing lines across sportsbooks, the free NHL picks section provides up-to-date odds movement and betting consensus data.

Matchup Breakdown

Toronto’s top unit features Matthews centering Matias Maccelli and Matthew Knies, forming a creative scoring trio. Coach Craig Berube has emphasized two-way structure and puck management during camp. Anthony Stolarz gets the start in goal, backed by Cayden Primeau, who was claimed off waivers earlier this week.

Montreal’s offense revolves around Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky. The addition of Noah Dobson adds mobility and puck control from the back end, while goaltender Sam Montembeault aims to build on his playoff performance.

Expect speed and transition to define this matchup — a contrast between Toronto’s quick-strike attack and Montreal’s improved defensive balance.

For more advanced betting breakdowns and market insights, explore the expert betting guide

Injuries and Conditions

Toronto Maple Leafs:

• Joseph Woll (personal) – out
• Bobby McMann (lower body) – day-to-day
  Full list: Toronto Maple Leafs injury report

Montreal Canadiens:

• Christian Dvorak (knee) – out
• Arber Xhekaj (upper body) – day-to-day
  Full list: Montreal Canadiens injury report

The opener will be played indoors at Scotiabank Arena, so weather conditions won’t factor in.

Best Bets and Prediction

Toronto’s firepower and home-ice advantage make them the favorite, but Montreal’s improved defense could keep things close. Both teams averaged more than 3.2 goals per game last year, and the over is 6-2 in their last eight meetings.

Projected Score: Maple Leafs 4, Canadiens 3
Best Bet: Over 6.5 goals
Secondary Lean: Canadiens +1.5

Track real-time betting splits and live numbers on the NHL odds page

ScoresAndStats Handicappers and Picks

The best handicappers leaderboard highlights today’s top NHL bettors, while premium plays are available on the service plays page

You can also find nightly expert analysis and predictions through our free NHL picks hub — your best stop for value plays throughout the season.

CTA: Get tonight’s expert NHL predictions and odds breakdowns.