Anderson scores late goal, Canadiens beat Maple Leafs 4-3

Oct 12, 2022, 7:35 AM | Updated: 9:16 pm

Montreal Canadiens' Sean Monahan, left, celebrates his goal againost Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray with Josh Anderson during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)

(Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray deflects a shot from Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Nick Suzuki, left, and Toronto Maple Leafs' Nicolas Aube-Kubel slide into the boards during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs' Michael Bunting ties up Montreal Canadiens' Nick Suzuki during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs' Michael Bunting, right, celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens with TJ Brodie (78) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Kirby Dach is stopped by Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield celebrates a goal ainst Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray, as David Savard watches during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield celebrates a goal against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs' Denis Malgin, right, celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens with John Tavares during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)

The puck sails into the net past Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray on a shot by Montreal Canadiens' Josh Anderson during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Josh Anderson (17) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)

MONTREAL (AP) — Josh Anderson scored with 19 seconds left to give the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night in the opener for both teams.

“Winning cures a lot. Obviously, we hadn’t won yet if you count the exhibition games,” Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said. “We hadn’t had much of our group all together and I know we have injuries on the back end, but I thought the kids played really, really well.”

Cole Caufield scored twice and Sean Monahan had his first goal for the Canadiens after coming over in an offseason deal with Calgary. Jake Allen stopped a penalty shot and finished with 29 saves.

Alexander Kerfoot was given the penalty shot when Arber Xhekaj held the center on a breakaway. Under a rain of boos, Kerfoot skated down the ice only to be denied by Allen.

“It wasn’t a perfect game,” St. Louis said. “There’s no perfect game, it’s just about finding ways in this league and I thought the guys fought tonight and found a way.”

Micheal Bunting, Dennis Malgin and William Nylander scored for Toronto, and Toronto, Matt Murray made 19 saves.

Monahan gave Montreal its first lead of the game when he grabbed a loose puck in the slot and beat Murray with 2:30 left. Nylander tied it with 1:50 remaining.

“There was nothing wrong with our effort, it was just careless,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe. “I expect more, our group should expect more. It was not good enough.”

TAVARES BACK

After missing the entire pre-season with an oblique injury, John Tavares made his return to the Maple Leafs. The captain centered the second line alongside Nylander and Denis Malgin and picked up two assists.

UP NEXT

Maple Leafs: Host Washington on Thursday night.

Canadiens: At Detroit on Friday night.

___

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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