Newhook scores twice to lead Canadiens over Maple Leafs

Alex Newhook scored twice in the first period and Jacob Fowler made 26 saves as the Montreal Canadiens topped the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Saturday.

Chris Kreider and Zachary Bolduc had the other goals for Montreal (11-3-3), which has won seven of its last eight games.

William Nylander and Gavin McKenna replied for Toronto (8-8-2). Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 24 shots for the Maple Leafs, who have lost two straight and four of five in regulation.

The Canadiens opened the scoring at 5:56 of the first when Newhook’s pass in front of Bobrovsky pinballed into Toronto’s net after a giveaway by McKenna – the No. 1 pick at the 2026 NHL draft – started the sequence.

Bobrovsky confident he and the Leafs can ride out the storm of their slow start

Montreal doubled its lead at 13:06 when Newhook tipped home Kaiden Guhle’s point shot.

The Canadiens made it 3-0 on a breakaway at 12:57 when Kreider intercepted a McKenna pass at Montreal’s blue line and beat Bobrovsky past his blocker. Toronto’s rookie winger was benched for the rest of the period.

Nylander blasted a one-timer on a power play at 6:19 of the third to get the Maple Leafs on the board before McKenna popped a loose puck home 55 seconds later, but Bolduc responded on a man advantage to make it 4-2 at 12:15.

Toronto got a late chance when Canadiens Juraj Slafkovsky was assessed a double-minor for high-sticking with 3:33 left in regulation, but Fowler and Montreal’s penalty killers held the fort.