Newhook’s two-goal first period lifts Canadiens to 4-2 win over Maple Leafs, extends point streak to 10

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

TORONTO — Alex Newhook scored twice in the first period as the Montreal Canadiens extended their point streak to 10 games with a 4-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.

Newhook put Montreal in front 2-0 early, firing the opener at 5:56 when his shot from the low slot deflected off Toronto defenseman Jake McCabe’s right skate, bounced off goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky’s left skate, and went into the net. At 13:06, Newhook battled in the right circle with McCabe before reaching out with his stick to deflect a point shot by Kaiden Guhle past Bobrovsky’s pads.

The Canadiens built the lead further when Chris Kreider made it 3-0 at 12:57 of the second period. Kreider intercepted a cross-ice pass by Gavin McKenna, then finished a breakaway by firing a wrist shot past Bobrovsky’s right pad.

Toronto got on the board in the third period on the power play when William Nylander scored at 6:19, ripping a one-timer from the left circle to make it 3-1. The goal also tied John Tavares for fifth on the Maple Leafs’ all-time power-play goals list with 85.

Gavin McKenna responded for Toronto at 7:14, chipping a puck from the low slot to cut the deficit to 3-2. Newhook’s early advantage held, however, as the Canadiens answered on their next opportunity: Zachary Bolduc scored on the power play at 12:15, blasting a one-timer from the right circle beyond Bobrovsky to restore a two-goal margin and make it 4-2.

Montreal then closed out the win by killing a late penalty sequence. The Canadiens prevented Toronto from scoring over the final 3:33, including the last 2:24 with Bobrovsky pulled for the extra skater after Juraj Slafkovsky took a double minor for high sticking Jack Roslovic.

Between the pipes, Jacob Fowler made 26 saves for Montreal to improve to 8-1-1 this season, including an 8-0-1 record in his past nine appearances. Bobrovsky stopped 24 shots in the Maple Leafs’ loss.

The result kept Montreal’s run rolling; the Canadiens entered Saturday’s game with a record of 11-3-3 and were 8-0-2 in their previous 10 games. Toronto fell to 8-8-2 and had lost four of its past five games entering the matchup.

There were several notable personnel updates during the game. Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly left early in the second period with a lower-body injury and did not return. Tavares, who returned after missing nine games with a lower-body injury, played the wing instead of center for the first time since April 2023.

The win at Scotiabank Arena was the next step in Montreal’s extended momentum, with Newhook’s two-goal burst in the first period setting the tone before late Toronto power-play production and a late push with the extra skater.