League: NHL Sport: Hockey Country: Canada Category: Injuries

Islanders open NHL season against Maple Leafs in Toronto

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 30, 2026, 11:00 PM

Last updated Sep 30, 2026

Islanders open NHL season against Maple Leafs in Toronto

Summary

The New York Islanders face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs in their 2026-27 NHL season opener at Scotiabank Arena. The Maple Leafs, coming off a loss to their Quebec rival the previous night, have called up their defensive lineup. The Islanders' expected scratches include Scott Mayfield, Kyle MacLean, and Matt Kessel. This marks a rare Islanders home opener in Canada, as well as the initial matchup between 2025 and 2026 first-overall picks, Matthew Schaefer and Gavin McKenna, respectively. The game is ongoing as both teams aim to set the tone for the season.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Game taking place on September 30, 2026, in Toronto.
•Maple Leafs lost their season opener to Quebec.
•Islanders scratched Scott Mayfield and Kyle MacLean.
•Match features first-time matchup between Schaefer and McKenna.
•Game is currently in progress.

Latest Updates

11:00 PMYahoo Sports — New York Islanders vs. Toronto Maple Leafs season opener game thread

What they're saying

"
The Islanders open the 2026-27 season in Toronto, where the Maple Leafs have already lost once, in their opener last night to their rivals from Quebec. Scott Mayfield and Kyle MacLean appear to be the scratches (Matt Kessel too) based on the morning skate, as captured by Andrew Gross for Newsday and confirming the projection […]
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

New York Islanders Toronto Maple Leafs NHL Hockey