Matthews scores 2 late goals for hat trick, Maple Leafs beat Canadiens 6-5 in shootout

Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews (34) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens with William Nylander (88) during third period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Auston Matthews scored two late goals to complete a hat trick and Mitch Marner had the lone shootout goal in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 6-5 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night in their season opener.

After the Maple Leafs fought back from 2-0 and 5-3 deficits, Marner moved in on Jake Allen and fired upstairs on Toronto's third attempt. Ilya Samsonov then stopped Kirby Dach at the other end to seal it.

Matthews scored the 300th, 301st and 302nd goals of his career for his eighth hat trick, William Nylander, with a goal and an assist, and Noah Gregor also scored in regulation for Toronto. Samsonov made 19 saves.

John Tavares had three assists for Toronto, while John Klingberg - in his first game with the Maple Leafs - chipped in with two.

Alex Newhook scored twice for Montreal. Cole Caufield, Jake Evans and Jesse Ylonen also scored, Allen stopped 37 shots, and Dach had two assists.

Matthews scored his second of the night with 4:32 left with Samsonov on the bench when he beat Allen from a tough angle. He tied it with 1:07 remaining to send Scotiabank Arena into a frenzy.

BRUINS 3, BLACKHAWKS 1

David Pastrnak broke a second-period tie and added an empty-netter to lift Boston past Chicago and spoil the first career NHL goal for Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard.

Trent Frederic also scored for Boston and reigning Vezina Trophy-winner Linus Ullmark made 20 saves as the Bruins won their season opener a year after setting NHL records for wins and points but then losing in the first round of the playoffs.

Matthew Poitras, the Bruins' top rookie, assisted on Frederic's goal for his first career NHL point.

Arvid Soderblom stopped 32 shots for the Blackhawks, who beat Pittsburgh on Tuesday night, with top draft pick Bedard getting an assist for his first point. The highly touted rookie scored about five minutes into the game on a wraparound that beat Ullmark and made it 1-0.

CANUCKS 8, OILERS 1

Brock Boeser scored a career-high four goals and Vancouver routed Edmonton to start a home-and-home opening set.

The teams will meet again Saturday night in Edmonton.

Conor Garland, Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller and Dakota Joshua also scored for the Canucks, with Miller adding four assists and Pettersson three. Quinn Hughes also had three assists.

Thatcher Demko started in goal for Vancouver and stopped 21 of 22 shots in 48 minutes. Casey DeSmith made five saves the rest of the way.

Leon Draisaitl scored for Edmonton, with Connor McDavid assisting. Oilers starter Jack Campbell and Stuart Skinner each allowed four goals.

AVALANCHE 5, KINGS 2

Mikko Rantanen had two goals and a pair of assists, Nathan MacKinnon added a goal and two assists and Colorado opened with a victory over Los Angeles.

Cale Makar and Miles Wood also scored for the Avalanche, who have won 12 straight regular-season road games dating to last season. Alexandar Georgiev stopped 35 shots.

Los Angeles' Carl Grundstrom and Quinton Byfield had second-period goals. Cam Talbot made 31 saves in his Kings debut.

HURRICANES 5, SENATORS 3

Defensemen Brady Skjei and Jaccob Slavin scored third-period goals to help Carolina beat Ottawa.

Michael Bunting scored in his first game with Carolina, and Teuvo Teravainen and Jordan Staal also scored. Frederik Andersen made 27 saves.

Mathieu Joseph had a first-period goal for the Senators, and Parker Kelly and Tim Stutzle teamed for a two-goal burst that tied it at 3 early in the third.

FLAMES 5, JETS 3

 Andrew Mangiapane had two goals and an assist and Calgary beat Winnipeg.

Elias Lindholm added a goal and two assists, defensemen Rasmus Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar also scored, and Jacob Markstrom made 34 saves.

Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Alex Iafallo scored for Winnipeg, with Connor Hellebuyck stopping 17 shots.

Scheifele tied it with 5:42 left, but Lindholm put the Flames back in front with 1:32 to go when he was fed by Mangiapane from behind the net. Mangiapane added an empty-netter.