Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Tickets

The Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs rivalry is one that dates back to 1917, when the two sides met for the first time. With over 800 games played between the two prestigious clubs, the Leafs and Habs, are one of the NHL's most storied rivalries.

City History

The Canadiens and Maple Leafs are the two oldest teams in the National Hockey League. Both compete in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The two clubs are also at the crossroads of societal issues within Canada. The Canadians represent the French speaking portion of Canada, while Toronto represents the English-speaking half. Hockey aside, the cities have been rivals since the mid-19th century, as well as cultural rivals. The two cities cultural differences also added to the rivalry. Montreal was historically considered Canada's cosmopolitan cultural center, while Toronto was viewed for its reputation as a small city with middle class appeal. After World War II, Toronto began to pass Montreal as a gateway to Canada for Americans, thus making it a rival to Montreal.

Le Habs vs The Leafs

During the NHL's first 25 seasons, the two Canadian clubs only met twice in the playoffs. Between 1944 and 1967, the two clubs would face one another 11 times in the postseason. They battled for Stanley Cup supremacy and were the only teams to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup. During the 1980-90's the two teams were placed in opposing conferences, thus the rivalry died down a bit. It wasn't until the 2000's when things began to pick back up. During the 2005-2006 season, the Canadiens eliminated the Leafs from the playoffs. In 2006-2007, the teams met for the final game of the season, with the Leafs winning and eliminating the Canadiens from playoff contention. In 2017, the Maple Leafs would defeat the Canadiens 403 in overtime, snapping a 14-game losing streak that would date back to 2014.

English vs French

The rivalry between these two clubs goes beyond the ice rink. Early on, ice hockey was seen as one of the only areas where French Canadians could dominate against English speaking Canadians. Because of this, the Montreal Canadiens would develop rivalries against their fellow Canadian teams.

Famous Players

Both Toronto and Montreal have featured some of the NHL's most legendary players. Some of those names for the Maple Leafs include Mats Sundin, Tim Horton, Dave Keon and Syl Apps. For the Canadiens, Guy LaFleur, Maurice Richard, and Larry Robinson are just a few of the many greats that have suited up for the two clubs.

Whether you want to see the Leafs take on the Canadiens in Toronto at Scotiabank Arena or take the trip to Montreal and see the action at Centre Bell Don't miss out!

Frequently Asked Questions About the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens

How many times have the Leafs and Canadiens played?

Including the playoffs, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens have faced each other 840 times. The Canadiens have won 411 of those matchups.

Who is the Canadiens all-time leading scorer?

Maurice RIchard has the record for most career goals with 544

Who is the Toronto Maple Leafs all-time leading scorer?

Mats Sundin holds the record for most career goals scored with 420