Montreal Canadiens' Jayden Struble (47) checks Toronto Maple Leafs' Easton Cowan (53) during second period pre-season NHL hockey action in Toronto on Thursday, September 26, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 on Thursday for their first win of the pre-season but star forward William Nylander left the game with an injury and did not return.
John Tavares and Nick Robertson scored for Toronto. Christian Dvorak tallied for Montreal.
The Maple Leafs outshot the Canadiens 33-17.
Midway through the first period, Nylander was tripped up in the neutral zone and was hit in the head by a passing Montreal player as he fell. The 27-year-old went straight to the dressing room and remained out for what the team called “precautionary reasons.”
Tavares opened the scoring midway through the first period by tipping home a deft touch-pass from Mitch Marner. It was the fourth point for Tavares in the two games he has played.
Dvorak pulled Montreal even at 5:39 of the second period after taking advantage of a slick feed from Alexandre Barre-Boulet at the Toronto blue line.
Dvorak held off Maple Leafs defender Morgan Rielly and tucked the puck between goalie Anthony Stolarz’s legs.
Robertson had two breakaways later in the period but both were turned aside by Montreal netminder Jakub Dobes.
Robertson eventually capitalized with the winner at 18:04. He stripped the puck from Canadiens defender Adam Engstrom, drawing a penalty in the process, and beat Dobes between the legs.
Matt Murray took over for Stolarz in the third period for his first game since suffering a hip injury on April 4, 2023. He stopped all seven shots he faced.
Stolarz had nine saves and Dobes made 32 stops.
COMING UP
The Maple Leafs and Canadiens will face each other again on Saturday in Montreal.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2024.
