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Wilson, Maple Leafs aim for second straight win vs. rival Canadiens

Oct 11, 2008 - 10:06 AM Montreal (0-0-1) at Toronto (1-0-0) 7:00 pm. EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) -- Ron Wilson's debut was better than anyone could have expected. Wilson and the Toronto Maple Leafs aim to build off a win over the defending Stanley Cup champions on Saturday, when they host the rival Montreal Canadiens.

A former player with the Maple Leafs, Wilson spent the last four seasons as coach of the San Jose Sharks before being fired on May 12 after three straight Western Conference semifinal losses. He quickly landed on his feet in Toronto, which let Paul Maurice go after just two seasons.

So far, so good, as the Maple Leafs stunned the Detroit Red Wings, 3-2, in their season opener on Thursday.

Defenseman Pavel Kubina and Dominic Moore scored before Nikolai Kulemin netted the game-winner on a breakaway in the third period of his first career game. Vesa Toskala made 35 saves, including a huge one late in the third on a wide-open Mikael Samuelsson to preserve the lead.

"This is one of the more satisfying wins I've ever had," Wilson told the team's official web site. "I've had some really great teams come into Detroit and you're hanging on for dear life, and if you can win a game in a shootout, you consider yourself lucky."

Toronto, which has not won consecutive games to start a season since 1999-2000, likely will have Toskala in net against the defending Northeast Division champion Canadiens. The Finn is 4-1-1 with a 2.48 goal-against average in seven career games against Montreal.

The Canadiens are looking to rebound from a 2-1 shootout loss to Buffalo on Friday. Carey Price made 35 saves but was beaten twice in the bonus format.

Montreal won the season series, 4-3-1, in 2007-08.