Rosie DiManno: Rebuilt Maple Leafs turn the page and inspire faith (in defeat, but still) on opening night - Toronto Star

The gospel according to coach Jim Hiller is the inverse of the Craig Berube era: thou shalt skate like the blazes.

The Maple Leafs and Canadiens face off after Montreal’s opening goal on Tuesday night at  Scotiabank Arena.

Rosie DiManno is a Toronto-based columnist covering sports and current affairs for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @rdimanno.

“Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you.’”

Once more into the breach of the unknown. So why not try to divine the fate of the Toronto Maple Leafs by cross-referencing numerology and scripture.

As credible a foretelling as any projection put forth by purported hockey savants and analytics geeks.

From the Bible — 26:27 — this 2026-27 season. Matthew(s) speaks for itself. And let’s capitalize Cup, drinketh from.

Bang-on prophecy: That William Nylander, on his first shift of the first game of the year (48 seconds after puck drop), would score Toronto’s first goal against the visiting Montreal Canadiens. Off the bench and streaking down the right wing, deking inside-out on Nick Suzuki before beating Jakub Dobeš short side up and over. Nylander was the most dangerous Leaf all night. First goal and last goal, but two goals wasn’t enough.