But Matthews connected the game with 75 seconds remaining and Hutchinson on the bench to send out Scotiabank Arena into a craze. The 22-year-old now has 12 goals in 12 profession games versus Montreal.
The Leafs was available in off Friday's 4-1 roadway success in Columbus over the Blue Jackets following their 5-3 defeat of the Ottawa Senators in Wednesday's curtain-raiser on the 2019-20 NHL campaign. The Canadiens dropped their season opener 4-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes in a shootout on Thursday.
Montreal got on the board just 68 seconds into the very first when Domi took a feed from Artturi Lehkonen on a 2-on-1 and beat Hutchinson.
Toronto connected things up at 5:57 on series that started when Nylander developed a turnover at the Canadiens' blue line. The puck eventually discovered its way to Matthews, who ripped his 4th on bullet a one-timer.
The home side grabbed the lead at 15:54 when Moore stripped Canadiens rookie winger Nick Suzuki behind Price's goal and fed Kerfoot, who snapped his first in blue and white after coming over with Barrie from the Colorado Avalanche in the Nazem Kadri trade this summertime.
Moore scored his second at 1:29 of the middle duration and Nylander got on the board himself on the power play early in the 3rd prior to Montreal got up to spur on the disorderly finish.
"After the very first two durations we were an extremely annoyed group," Canadiens head coach Claude Julien stated. "It referred refocusing and attempting to get our video game back on track."
Kapanen tosses stick
Montreal tracked 4-1 just over 5 minutes into the 3rd duration, however scored twice in fast succession to set up Petry's penalty shot. With the Canadiens on a power play, Petry saw his slapshot blocked by Kapanen, who broke his stick on the play and inexplicably tossed it at the blue-liner.
"I've seen men throw a stick at the puck, but never ever at somebody," Petry said. "No one knew the ruling on it. I saw the ref's arm go up. They originally said anyone can take it, and after that they altered it and said anyone on the ice.
"And then they stated it needed to be me, so it was a weird method it played out."
Petry, who had never taken a penalty shot in the NHL and stopped working to score on his only shootout effort, beat Leafs goalie Michael Hutchinson low to the glove side for his very first of the season to make it 4-4.
Montreal winger Brendan Gallagher stated he 'd seen his teammate take a number of charge shots in practice and was positive he 'd provide.
"That was pretty silly," he stated of the stick throw. "Petey made him pay."
Kapanen said tiredness played a factor in his brain cramp.
"I guess you get a charge shot for that," he stated. "I take complete obligation."
"I've never seen that play by anyone ever," Toronto head coach Mike Babcock said. "We've all got to discover from it."
Gallagher had a goal and two assists for Montreal (1-0-1), while Phillip Danault and Max Domi, with a goal and an assist each, and Jonathan Drouin likewise scored. Shea Weber added two assists.
Toronto spend goals in the 3rd
Auston Matthews had 2 objectives-- his fifth and fourth of the season-- while Alexander Kerfoot had an objective and two assists for his first 3 points with Toronto (2-0-1). Trevor Moore included an objective and a help. William Nylander likewise scored for the Leafs, who got 37 conserves from Hutchinson. Tyson Barrie had two assists.
After that wild third period that saw Toronto blow that 4-1 lead prior to tying the game 5-5 late, Price robbed Marner on a breakaway in overtime before the Canadiens came close at the other end on a scramble that led to a slashing penalty to John Tavares.
The Leafs handled to kill that one off and Tavares had a possibility on another partial break coming out of the box, however Price snagged his effort.
Domi then struck the crossbar on a 2-on-1 rush and Price denied Tavares once again late to cap a frenzied additional session.
"He's unbelievable," Domi said. "He's the very best goalie in the world for a reason."
Byron beat Hutchinson on the Canadiens' very first shootout attempt, while Price rejected Matthews and Marner before Tavares shot large to end it.
"Things were looking a little bleak going into the second intermission, but we were able to remain positive, rally the troops and have a huge third," Price stated. "I believe that was fun to watch."
Toronto appeared to have the game in hand when Nylander made it 4-1 at 5:16 of the third on a power play, however Montreal scored 11 seconds later when Drouin's pass in front entered off Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly.
Gallagher then made it 4-3 at 6:29 after an icing, banging home a Weber rebound.
And after Petry's successful charge shot, Danault put Montreal ahead by burying another rebound with 4:40 left as the Canadiens scored 4 times in less than 10 minutes.