The Battle of Ontario heats up with a provincial twist as the Montreal Canadiens visit the Toronto Maple Leafs for a Saturday night Original Six showdown at Scotiabank Arena. Montreal (14-9-3) enters with renewed optimism after a three-game win streak, leaning on young stars like Cole Caufield to climb the Atlantic Division ladder. The Leafs (13-11-3), however, are desperate to end a three-game skid that has them slipping toward wild-card contention, with Auston Matthews’ sniper touch under the microscope amid defensive lapses. This rivalry—fueled by 60+ years of bad blood—averages 6.2 goals per game historically, but recent tilts suggest a tighter, more physical affair. Puck drop could decide early positioning in a crowded East.
Venue and Game Details
Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON (40 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5J 2X2). The Leafs’ downtown fortress seats 19,800 for hockey and erupts with blue-clad fervor, though Toronto’s home record (7-5-2) has cooled lately.
Puckdrop: 7:00 p.m. ET.
Broadcast: Sportsnet (national Canada), ESPN+ (U.S. stream), RDS (Montreal), TSN4 (Toronto). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Team Records and Standings
Montreal holds the Atlantic’s fifth spot with a +8 goal differential, excelling in even-strength scoring (2.92 xGF/60, 8th league-wide) but vulnerable on the penalty kill (79.8%, 25th). Toronto mirrors them in points but ranks 20th in goals against (3.12/GP), propped up by elite power-play conversion (24.3%, 3rd).
| Team | Record (W-L-OTL) | Points | GF/GP | GA/GP | Home | Away | Streak |
| Montreal Canadiens | 14-9-3 | 31 | 3.04 | 2.74 | 7-4-2 | 7-5-1 | W3 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 13-11-3 | 29 | 3.22 | 3.12 | 7-5-2 | 6-6-1 | L3 |
The Habs lead the NHL in rookie points (Suomi’s 18), while Toronto tops shots on goal (33.2/GP) but sits 24th in save percentage (.892).
Recent Team Forms
Montreal has flipped the script with 12 goals across their streak, including a 5-2 dismantling of the Rangers on Thursday. Their Corsi (52.1%) indicates controlled play, though they’ve surrendered 3+ goals in five of their last eight. Samuel Montembeault’s hot streak (.925 SV% over three starts) has masked blue-line inconsistencies.
Toronto’s woes compound: outscored 11-5 in three losses, with just 2.33 goals/game during the slide. The Leafs are 6-4-0 in their previous 10, but home special teams (81.2% PK) have faltered. Matthews’ drought (0G in 4GP) amplifies concerns.
| Canadiens Last 5 Games | Result | Score | Key Notes |
| Dec 4 vs NYR | W | 5-2 | Caufield 2G; Montembeault 24 saves, streak alive. |
| Dec 1 @ OTT | W | 4-3 (OT) | Roy GWG; high-event, 38 SOG. |
| Nov 28 vs DET | W | 3-1 | Hutson 2A; low-scoring trap. |
| Nov 26 @ BOS | L | 2-4 | Defensive errors; 0/3 PP. |
| Nov 23 vs FLA | L | 1-3 | Montembeault pulled; stifled attack (22 SOG). |
| Maple Leafs Last 5 Games | Result | Score | Key Notes |
| Dec 4 @ CBJ | L | 3-4 | Nylander G; Woll .878 SV%, road collapse. |
| Dec 2 vs VAN | L | 1-2 (SO) | Matthews A; shootout woes (0/3). |
| Nov 29 @ WSH | L | 1-5 | Tavares G; defensive meltdown (40 SOG allowed). |
| Nov 27 vs PIT | W | 4-2 | Marner 3A; power play 2/4. |
| Nov 24 @ BUF | W | 5-3 | Matthews 2G; offensive rebound. |
Injury Report
Injuries sting both sides, but Toronto’s forward depth takes a bigger hit without key scorers, while Montreal’s defense remains patchwork.
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Est. Return | Notes |
| MTL | Kirby Dach | C | IR (Out) | Dec 18 | Wrist; 6 pts in 12GP, second-line pivot. |
| MTL | Patrik Laine | RW | Out | Dec 12 | Knee; 4G in 15GP, power-play threat. |
| MTL | Jordan Harris | D | Day-to-Day | Dec 6? | Lower body; practiced, 5 pts in 20GP. |
| TOR | Mitch Marner | RW | IR (Out) | Jan 10 | Ankle; 15 pts in 18GP, irreplaceable playmaker. |
| TOR | Matthew Knies | LW | Out | Dec 9 | Concussion; 8 pts in 22GP, physical winger. |
| TOR | Calle Jarnkrok | C | IR (Out) | Dec 20 | Hip; 7 pts in 19GP, checking-line anchor. |
| TOR | Joseph Woll | G | Day-to-Day | Dec 6? | Illness; backup to Samsonov (9-7-2, .892 SV%). |
Montembeault (.908 SV%, 2.74 GAA) starts his fourth in a row for Montreal; Ilya Samsonov for Toronto.
Key Player Matchups
Rivalry intensity amplifies individual battles, with Montreal’s speed clashing against Toronto’s cycle game. Caufield vs. Rielly could swing momentum.
Cole Caufield (MTL, 16G-12A) vs. Morgan Rielly (TOR): Caufield’s wrister (team-high 18.2% shooting) tests Rielly’s containment (4.1 defensive shares). Caufield has 7G in streak; Rielly must curb rush threats (MTL 11.8/GP).
Nick Suzuki (MTL, 11G-18A) vs. Auston Matthews (TOR, 18G-10A): Suzuki’s two-way reliability (53.8% faceoffs) meets Matthews’ dominance (1.2 goals/GP). Suzuki 8 pts in 7; Matthews snaps drought vs. Habs PK (79.8%).
Auston Matthews (TOR) vs. Kaiden Guhle (MTL): Matthews’ netfront power (62.3% Corsi) challenges Guhle’s physicality. Guhle (3 pts, +8 rating) has held top snipers; Matthews 5G in last 6 vs. MTL.
William Nylander (TOR, 13G-15A) vs. Juraj Slafkovsky (MTL): Nylander’s edge work (25 pts) exploits Slafkovsky’s growth (rookie D, 9 pts). Nylander 6 pts in skid; Slafkovsky thrives on board battles.
Samuel Montembeault (MTL) vs. Toronto’s Top Line: Montembeault’s poise (.925 SV% streak) vs. Matthews-Nylander-Tavares (48 combined pts). Montembeault has two shutouts vs. TOR career; Leafs generate 3.4 xGA/60.
Watch Lane Hutson (MTL, offensive D) in power-play matchups.
Series History
This storied feud boasts 780 regular-season meetings, with Toronto leading 396-323-61 (54.2% win rate)—though Montreal owns the Cup edge (24-13). The Leafs have won 7 of the last 10, including a 4-3 OT home win on November 9 (Nylander GWG). Habs are 4-6 in their last 10 at Scotiabank Arena, often edged in shots (31-28 avg.). Playoff ghosts linger: Toronto’s 1967 sweep, Montreal’s 1970s dominance.
| Last 5 Meetings | Date | Result (TOR Home unless noted) | Score | Key Stat | |
| Nov 9, 2025 | TOR Home | W (TOR) | 4-3 (OT) | Nylander decider; 65 SOG combined. | |
| Oct 11, 2025 | @ MTL | W (TOR) | 3-2 | Samsonov 31 saves; low-event grinder. | |
| Apr 8, 2025 | TOR Home | L (MTL) | 3-4 | Suzuki 2G; Habs rally late. | |
| Mar 4, 2025 | @ MTL | W (TOR) | 5-3 | Matthews hat trick; offensive barrage. | |
| Jan 20, 2025 | TOR Home | W (TOR) | 2-1 | Woll shutout; Under alert. |
Toronto wins 62% when scoring first (MTL 45% when trailing after 1).
Betting Trends
Moneyline Trends: Leafs 7-5 as home favorites; Canadiens 7-5 as road dogs. 57% bets on MTL ML.
Puck Line: TOR -1.5 (+155) covers in 52% of home wins; MTL +1.5 (-185) hits 72% as underdogs.
Total Trends: Over 6.5 in 6 of last 10 H2H; Under in 7 of TOR’s last 10 homes. League avg: 6.1 goals/game.
Game Odds
Montreal Canadiens 6.5
Toronto Maple Leafs – 135
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, December 5, 2025
