Canadiens: CH receives a visit from the Toronto Maple Leafs

index

The Montreal Canadiens returned to action the day after the trade deadline to face their longtime rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, at the Bell Centre.

The two teams lost their last match and are trying to get back to winning ways. The stakes are a little higher for the Leafs, who will want to pick up as many wins between now and the end of the season to put themselves in the best possible position for the playoffs.

Max Domi scored with 1:19 left in the second period and the Toronto Maple Leafs led 2-1 after 40 minutes of play.

Domi was able to escape thanks to a long delivery from Calle Jarnkrok after a Brendan Gallagher turnover in the visitors' box. His shot barely passed through goalkeeper Samuel Montembault's equipment.

Bobby McMahon tied the game 1-1 by scoring 39 seconds into the second period.

Canadian defenseman Arber Xhekaj was guilty of committing a turnover on the opposite blue line, allowing McMann to orchestrate a two-on-one attack. The Maple Leafs forward blocked a sharp shot from Montembault from the side of the Shield.

Josh Anderson came close to answering about a minute into the game. However, his shot hit the post.

Mike Matheson opened the scoring just 38 seconds into the first period. The Canadian defenseman completed an impressive series started by Juraj Slavkovski and Cole Caufield. Goalie Ilya Samsonov was caught on the wrong foot and Matheson only had to push the puck into an open cage.

The first period was halted for approximately ten minutes when part of the window in the door leading to the visitors' penalty area broke. Once play resumed, Samsonov had to be vigilant to keep the Maple Leafs in the game.

At the other end of the ice, Montembault made some of his best saves in the first period on William Nylander, who was shooting past his own net.

Montembault made 17 saves during the first two matches, while Samsonov made 21 saves.