The Toronto Maple Leafs put in an incomplete effort in a 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth earlier this week in the first game of what has to be considered a critical juncture early in the regular season. Toronto has lost more games than they’ve won through 17 games, and in the loaded Atlantic Division, the Leafs are already seven points behind first-place Boston, but just two points out of Florida, who holds the second Eastern Conference wildcard spot.
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With seven of the next eight games over the next two weeks at Scotiabank Arena, Toronto has to improve on their mediocre 4-4-1 home record immediately, or their chances of remaining in the playoff race will dissipate. On Saturday, the Leafs take on the Montreal Canadiens for the second and final time at home this season, and will be getting back center John Tavares.
Tavares suffered a lower-body injury in a 5-4 overtime loss to Buffalo on October 15, and has missed 9 games. The Leafs went 5-4-0 over that stretch, but the club has been schizophrenic all season, losing three straight, winning four games in a row, followed by losses in three of the next four.
The game is the first of the traditional back-to-back home games on Hockey Hall of Fame weekend, with Connor Hellebuyck’s New Jersey Devils in town on Sunday. The Devils are also playing on back-to-back nights against the Islanders at UBS Arena on Saturday, so the Leafs may not face the Hart and Vezina winner.
“We’re adding a fantastic player and a guy that does a lot of things for our team,” Leafs captain Auston Matthews said after an optional morning skate on Saturday. The last couple days of practice, he’s been the best on the ice. So he’s going to be a huge boost for us, a huge help, not only on the ice, but obviously in the room.”
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (8-7-2 – 18 POINTS) vs. MONTRÉAL CANADIENS (10-3-3 – 23 POINTS)
NOVEMBER 7, 2026 ▪ 7 PM SCOTIABANK ARENA (TORONTO, ON) TV: SPORTSNET ▪ RADIO: TSN 1050
TORONTO’S HISTORY vs. MONTRÉAL
| All-Time Record: | 318-351-88-20 (777 Games) |
| All-Time Home Record: | 202-130-45-11 (388 Games) |
| 2025-26: | 1-2-1 |
| Last Five: | 1-3-1 |
| Last 10: | 5-4-1 |
| First Matchup Between Clubs: | December 25, 1917 (Toronto 7 vs. Montréal 5) |
| All-Time Record: | 318-351-88-20 |
| All-Time Home Record: | 202-130-45-11 |
| All-Time Road Record: | 116-221-43-9 |
| Last Home Win vs. Opponent: | October 8, 2025 (Toronto 5 vs. Montréal 2) |
MAPLE LEAFS / CANADIENS – 2026-27 TEAM STATS
| TORONTO | MONTRÉAL | |
| Team Rank: | 7th – Atlantic | 2nd – Atlantic |
| Goals For Per Game: | 3.65 (7th) | 3.44 (12th) |
| Goals Against Per Game: | 3.24 (18th-T) | 3.19 (17th) |
| Power Play %: | 28.8 (6th) | 14.0 (30th) |
| Penalty Kill %: | 88.1 (4th) | 78.5 (14th) |
| Shots For Per Game: | 28.2 (11th) | 27.6 (14th) |
| Shots Against Per Game: | 29.7 (27th) | 28.3 (21st) |
| Faceoff %: | 53.0 (8th) | 51.6 (10th) |
| (NHL rank in parenthesis – as of 11/07/2026 at 8:30 a.m. EST) | ||
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