Beyond The Score: Maple Leafs vs Canadiens (Game 1)

Starting the season with a win just feels right, doesn’t it? The Maple Leafs edged out the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 in a game that felt both comfortable and familiar. Comfortable, because even when they weren’t fully in control, the team found a way to win. Familiar, because this is the Leafs we’ve known—structured, solid in net, and capable of bursts of game-breaking talent.

Depth scoring came from the faces we recognize: Calle Jarnkrok, Bobby McMann, and Morgan Rielly. It’s reassuring, yes—but it also sparks a little frustration. After a full year under Berube, plus new additions meant to fit his style, shouldn’t we see more dominance? More control? Instead, they sometimes waited, letting the game unfold around them rather than forcing their will. Quick strikes were there, but the sense of truly imposing their style? Not yet.

And that’s the tension for fans: joy and unease existing side by side. Every goal excites us, every loose pass reminds us that perfection is still a work in progress. We’ve wanted this season to feel different, to feel decisive, and last night gave hints—but hints alone aren’t enough.

It’s only game one, and of course, improvements will come. Berube himself admitted he wasn’t happy with their puck management. But fans watching from the stands, from bars, or from living rooms know that for the Leafs to truly elevate, they can’t just react—they have to dictate. They need to make others play their game, set the pace, and demand respect.

Still, a 5-2 win is a 5-2 win, and there’s something grounding about that in the opener. Playing from ahead feels a world away from scrambling to catch up. Last night laid the foundation—now it’s up to the Leafs to build, refine, and show that this season is meant to feel different. For the fans, for the city, for the team: the hope isn’t just in the scoreboard. It’s in the way this team makes us believe, again, that maybe, just maybe, this year could finally be different.