NHL season opens tonight as the Maple Leafs host the Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. ET.

Welcome back to another NHL Predictions. Each day, our writers here at Last Word on Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out.

It was a good start to the season for the Montreal Canadiens, taking on their divisional rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs, at least until the last few minutes of the game. Martin St-Louis repeatedly stated during the preseason that he wanted his team to be ready from the start this season.

With assists on the goals from Bobby McMann and Auston Matthews before adding his own goal in the final seconds, William Nylander now has 15 points in nine career season openers, surpassing Darryl Sittler for the third most in Maple Leafs history.

Lane Hutson directed blame for the Canadiens’ loss to the Maple Leafs before they bounced back. The Montreal Canadiens responded to their season-opening loss with a commanding 5–1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, led by Mike Matheson’s two-point night and a sharp 30-save performance from Jakub Dobes.

MONTREAL -- The Bell Centre crowd rose to its feet more than 18 years ago in a thunderous celebration of Ken Dryden, the legendary goalie’s No. 29 retired, a banner pulled to the arena rafters during a ceremony on Jan. 29, 2007.

Demidov is incredibly skilled, and everyone knows that. But he showed something against the Blackhawks that might have been less apparent.

The Chicago Blackhawks (0-1-1) play at home for the first time this season when they host the Montreal Canadiens (1-1-0) at the United Center on Saturday night.