Home-opening night comes early in Toronto this season. The Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens tonight at Scotiabank Arena, renewing the oldest rivalry in the sport to start the home schedule.
The Leafs arrive at 1-1-1 after splitting their first three games on the road, and the opener doubles as the fans' first live look at how this year's group handles expectations that never seem to shrink.
In a very Toronto touch, the arena will show the Blue Jays' playoff game on the big screen so fans do not have to choose between the city's two October obsessions.
Montreal, meanwhile, would like nothing more than to spoil the party; Canadiens-Leafs openers have a habit of producing the kind of chaos that sets a season's tone.
Puck drop is tonight. Between the rivalry, the home crowd and baseball on the big screen, it is a distinctly Toronto evening.
