Leafs edge Canadiens on late Josh Anderson goal

Josh Anderson scored the go-ahead goal with 19 seconds left in the third period, lifting the Montreal Canadiens over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.

Anderson's winner completed a flurry of goals late in the third period. Sean Monahan gave Montreal a 3-2 lead at 17:30 with William Nylander tying it at 18:10.

Cole Caufield scored twice for the Canadiens and Nick Suzuki added two assists.

Michael Bunting and Denis Malgin also scored for Toronto. John Tavares added two assists.

Matt Murray made 19 saves in his debut for Toronto.

Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen stopped 29 shots.

Shots on goal were 8-8 and the Canadiens had a 3-1 advantage in power plays in the first period, but the Maple Leafs had the only goal.

Bunting scored at 11:41 of the first period from the slot on a pass from behind the goal by Mitchell Marner. TJ Brodie also had an assist. The play started with a turnover at the Maple Leafs blue line and Bunting's first shot at the goal was wide.

Murray made a good save on Caufield during Montreal's second power play of the first.

Caufield tied it 33 seconds into the second period on a two-on-one with Suzuki. David Savard also picked up an assist. The play started with a turnover in the Montreal defensive zone.

Auston Matthews hit the goal post with a shot at 4:43 of the second on a Toronto power play.

Toronto regained the lead at 9:06 of the second when Malgin tapped in a rebound on a shot by Tavares. Nylander also had an assist.

Montreal tied the game at 15:56 of the second on Caufield's second goal after a turnover in the neutral zone. Caufield was looking to pass before shooting from the right circle for an unassisted goal.

Allen made the save on Alexander Kerfoot on a penalty shot at 17:20 of the second. Arber Xhekaj had hooked Kerfoot, who was on a breakaway.

Toronto had a 21-17 advantage in shots after two periods.

Montreal survived two Toronto power plays in the third period.