Leafs Lose to Canadiens in Season Opener: Nylander, Marchenko & Matthews Shine, Raddysh & McKenna Struggle

The Toronto Maple Leafs opened the 2026-27 season with a 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens — and there were plenty of positives and concerns to take away from Game 1. Mike DiStefano and Dave Morassutti break down the season opener, including a huge night from William Nylander, an impressive Toronto debut for Kirill Marchenko, and a strong performance from Easton Cowan. But there were also some major concerns. Darren Raddysh struggled in his first game as a Maple Leaf, turning the puck over five times and finishing with a minus-two rating. The guys also break down the Morgan Rielly-Raddysh pairing and whether the combination can work long-term. Gavin McKenna also had a quiet NHL debut, finishing with one shot and a minus-two rating. Should the Leafs keep him on the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander, or give him a chance to ease into the NHL on the third line? Plus, the guys discuss the early chemistry between Auston Matthews and Kirill Marchenko, the Leafs' struggling power play and why Cowan quickly earned more responsibility. And with the Leafs right back in action against the New York Islanders, the guys preview Game 2 and discuss potential lineup changes, including Anthony Stolarz getting the start. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Aura Cybersecurity Start your free trial today at https://aura.com/aware.   Protect yourself now. Butcher Box If you're looking for an easier way to get great meals on the table, give ButcherBox a try. Go to https://ButcherBox.com/LOCKEDONNHL to get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ribeye, new york strip, or filet mignon in every box for a year — with free shipping always. Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. FanDuel This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.