MONTREAL (AP) — Noah Dobson and Josh Anderson each scored twice and the Montreal Canadiens snapped a five-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night in a showdown between slumping teams.
Lane Hutson also scored, Ivan Demidov and Mike Matheson each had two assists, and Jakub Dobes made 24 saves for his first victory since Oct. 28. Montreal won for the second time in nine games to improve to 11-7-3.
Click to Gallery
Montreal Canadiens' Noah Dobson (53) celebrates with teammate Mike Matheson (8) after scoring against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll is scored on by Montreal Canadiens' Josh Anderson (not shown) during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Players from the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs fight during third period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens' Noah Dobson (53) scores against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens' Florian Xhekaj, right, fights with Toronto Maple Leafs' Dakota Mermis (36) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canadiens forward Florian Xhekaj had an assist in his NHL debut and also dropped the gloves for a big third-period fight with Dakota Mermis. Xhekaj and defenseman Arber Xhekaj became the 14th pair of brothers to play in the same game for the Canadiens, and the latest since Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn in 2010.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson and William Nylander scored for Toronto. The Maple Leafs opened a six-game trip with their seventh loss in eight games to fall to 9-10-3.
Joseph Woll gave up four goals on 25 shots in his fourth consecutive start before he was pulled with 6:49 left in the second period. Dennis Hildeby stopped all three shots he faced in relief.
Toronto captain Auston Matthews and winger Matthew Knies, among several other regulars, were sidelined with injuries. Toronto defenseman Jake McCabe left midway through the second period after a pass rode up his stick and hit him in the face.
Maple Leafs: At Columbus on Wednesday night.
Canadiens: At Utah on Wednesday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Montreal Canadiens' Noah Dobson (53) celebrates with teammate Mike Matheson (8) after scoring against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll is scored on by Montreal Canadiens' Josh Anderson (not shown) during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Players from the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs fight during third period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens' Noah Dobson (53) scores against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens' Florian Xhekaj, right, fights with Toronto Maple Leafs' Dakota Mermis (36) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Andrew Painter hopped off the mound in excitement in the fifth inning after his 97.2 mph fastball got James Wood to strike out for a second time.
Phillies fans — some groups called themselves Andrew's Painters, others Painter's Painters — waved paintbrushes and erupted in cheers with each strikeout for the rookie pitcher.
Painter delivered a masterpiece in his major league debut.
The 22-year-old Painter — considered to have one of the top arms in any level of baseball — tossed four-hit ball and struck out eight over 5 1/3 innings Tuesday in the Phillies' 3-2 win against the Washington Nationals. Painter tipped his cap to the cheering crowd of 40,709 fans as he left the mound in the sixth after he allowed a one-out single to C.J. Abrams.
“It was awesome,” Painter said. “Crowd showed up tonight. Just kind of soaked all of it. I don't think I could have drawn it up much better.”
He struck out the side in the fifth, walked one and allowed a run when Abrams scored on a run-scoring single by Daylen Lile off reliever Tanner Banks.
Painter wanted to stay in the game and at least finish the inning. Phillies manager Rob Thomson wasn't going to push the right-hander almost 1,000 days since his big league path was elongated by Tommy John surgery.
Thomson asked Painter on the mound visit if he enjoyed his first game.
“He shook his head no,” Thomson said with a laugh. “Then he figured out what I said and shook his head yes.”
Painter received a rousing ovation as he made the long walk from the bullpen to the dugout before the game and kept the fans on their feet when he struck out Wood on a nasty 12-6 curveball to open the game. Painter kept the Nationals flailing at breaking balls and swinging over high hard stuff the rest of the game.
Painter mixed curves, sweepers and sliders with a fastball that nearly touched 100 mph and flashed every bit of greatness that has been predicted of him since he was the 13th overall pick in the 2021 amateur draft and signed for a $3.9 million bonus.
Painter sprinted through Philadelphia’s system in 2022, going 6-2 with a 1.48 ERA in 26 appearances spread across two Class A teams and Double-A Reading.
He hurt his elbow during spring training in 2023 and had Tommy John surgery later that year.
The 6-foot-7 right-hander emerged the top candidate to win the Phillies’ fifth starter job as he attempted to crack the rotation before his 20th birthday. Instead, the injury set him back at least two seasons, and he went 5-8 with a 5.26 ERA during two minor league stops last season.
He’s been deemed good to go and joins a stout rotation that this season will include Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo.
“We've been waiting a while for this,” Thomson said. “So have our players.”
The two-time reigning NL East champion Phillies gave him needed run support with solo home runs from Kyle Schwarber and Adolis Garcia. Painter left with the Phillies leading 3-0.
“He didn't seem fazed by anything out there," Schwarber said. “That was pretty cool. I mean, even before the game, there's no pacing, no nothing. Just felt like he was mentally prepared for what he was about to do. That's impressive.”
The first outing sure seemed a like preview for even more impressive starts over his career.
“I felt like I was in control of the pace of the game,” Painter said.
Considered the organization's top pitching prospect since Cole Hamels, Painter entered the season ranked No. 26 among all prospects in baseball. Painter gave up seven hits and struck out eight in 11 2/3 innings in spring training this year.
“If we can keep him healthy, this guy's going to be really good for a long time,” Thomson said. “He's going to have a really great career. He's one of those upper-echelon guys. He's got the combination of power and command. The future is bright for him.”
Painter said every part of his game felt in sync, from pregame warmups to keeping his emotions in check while pitching in front of about 40 friends and family in his ticket group. He changed from his No. 24 jersey into a Phillies hoodie and shorts and jogged back onto the field after the final out for photos and hugs with his parents, former coaches and everyone who made the trip.
That included a kiss with his fiancée.
Painter took a knee before he ever threw a regular-season pitch. He posted proposal photos on Instagram in March with his girlfriend, Shelby.
What's more nerve-wracking, proposing or taking the mound?
“I'm not sure,” Painter said with a laugh. “We'll revisit that.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson, second from left, releases pitcher Andrew Painter, center, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter greets teammates during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Philadelphia Phillies' Andrew Painter pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Philadelphia Phillies fans that call themselves "Painter's Painters" pose for a photo as they cheer on rookie Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter during his MLB debut in a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Dan Gelston)
Philadelphia Phillies' Andrew Painter pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Philadelphia Phillies' Andrew Painter pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
