Maple Leafs suffer 1st shutout loss in almost 3 years vs. Habs

The Toronto Maple Leafs opened their 2024-25 season with a 1-0 defeat against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, marking their first shutout loss since Nov. 20, 2021.

Toronto's run was the third-longest non-shutout streak - including the regular season and playoffs - in NHL history.

Excluding the playoffs, the Maple Leafs' streak was at 227 regular-season contests, good for the eighth-longest all time.

Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault was outstanding during Montreal's victory, turning aside all 48 shots he faced to set the record for the most stops in a season-opening shutout, according to Sportsnet Stats.

Montembeault told reporters postgame that he wasn't aware he'd etched his name in the NHL's record books.

"Oh, really? Oh, that's nice," he said with a laugh. "I didn't know."

The 27-year-old saved 5.2 goals above expected at all strengths in his second career shutout victory, per Natural Stat Trick.

"He was solid everywhere, really calm," captain Nick Suzuki said of Montembeault's performance. "It seemed like everything was sticking to him. ... We know the kind of goalie he can be, and he showed that tonight. We'd like to not give up as many shots, but he was there for us."

Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner led the way for Toronto with six shots apiece.

The only goal of the outing came on the power play in the opening period from Cole Caufield, who was debuting his new No. 13 jersey in honor of Johnny Gaudreau.

Caufield said he thanked Montembeault after the game, according to TSN's Kenzie Lalonde.

At the other end of the ice, veteran Anthony Stolarz made his Leafs debut, making 26 saves on 27 shots.

"It's exciting, for sure," he said of his hard-fought battle with his fellow netminder. "As a goalie, you appreciate that. Hats off to Montembeault, he played one hell of a game.

"He made some big saves. As a goalie, you're looking down the other end watching him make those saves, and you have to just kinda bear down and do your best to try to match him because he was elite tonight."

The Maple Leafs hadn't kicked off their campaign with a shutout loss since the 2003-04 season, according to the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan.