**Maple Leafs Defeat Canadiens in Season Opener** The Toronto Maple Leafs kicked off their season with a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena. The game featured an enthusiastic crowd that frequently chanted for the Blue Jays, who were also in action. Bobby McMann scored the first goal of the season just one minute into the game, marking the sixth-fastest opening goal in team history. McMann deflected a shot from William Nylander, who had received a pass from John Tavares after winning a faceoff. “I liked Bobby (McMann) a lot tonight,” said Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube. “Skated well. Hard on pucks. Got to the net.” McMann, who stands 6 feet 2 inches and weighs 215 pounds, was praised for his performance, which included a goal and a strong presence on the ice. The Leafs initially struggled with their power play, allowing a short-handed goal to Montreal’s Oliver Kapanen after a turnover. The Canadiens capitalized on another mistake, with Zachary Bolduc scoring to tie the game at 2-2 in the second period. Morgan Rielly scored the game-winning goal after a breakaway by Matthew Knies, who recovered the puck and assisted Rielly. Nylander and Auston Matthews added empty-net goals to secure the win. Matthews now has 13 goals in season openers, tying him with Alex Ovechkin for the most among active players. The Maple Leafs have now won 10 consecutive home openers, the longest active streak in the NHL. The record for most consecutive home openers won is 11, held by the Canadiens. Anthony Stolarz, the Leafs' goaltender, made 27 saves, showcasing his skills during moments when the Canadiens appeared to dominate play. Despite the victory, Berube acknowledged areas for improvement. “A lot of good, but there’s stuff we’ve got to work on,” he said. “We did a good enough job to win the game.” Rookie forward Easton Cowan was a healthy scratch for the game but participated in pre-game warmups. Berube noted that while they want Cowan to play, the decision was made for him not to participate in the opener. The game also included a moment of silence to honor hockey legend Ken Dryden, who passed away on September 5. Dryden was a Hall of Fame goalie for the Canadiens and later served as president of the Maple Leafs. With this win, the Maple Leafs look to build momentum as they continue their season, while fans remain excited about both the hockey team and the Blue Jays' playoff run.