Hockey returns on Saturday, September 19, when the 2026-27 NHL preseason gets underway. The opening night spotlight falls on one of the sport’s most familiar matchups: Toronto and Montréal.
The Maple Leafs and Canadiens will begin their exhibition schedules against each other in a rare split-squad arrangement, with games staged at the same time in Toronto and Montréal. Both faceoffs are set for 7 p.m. ET.
A Familiar Rivalry Starts the Preseason
This matchup gives Canadian fans an immediate reminder that the offseason is over. Toronto and Montréal are once again meeting at the start of a new campaign, and the timing makes the rivalry feel even bigger.
Instead of sending one lineup north and the other south, each club is dividing its roster between both cities. That means one group of players will skate at Scotiabank Arena while another takes the ice at the Bell Centre.
- Two games will be played on the same night.
- Both start at 7 p.m. ET.
- One is in Toronto, the other in Montréal.
- Each team uses split squads to test more players at once.
Why the NHL Season Looks Different This Year
The preseason is shorter than it used to be, while the regular season has grown from 82 games to 84. That combination leaves coaches with fewer exhibition dates and less time to sort out lineups.
For players trying to lock down roster spots, every shift matters a little more now. There are fewer games to make an impression, fewer chances to stand out, and less room for error.
That is why split-squad nights can be so useful. Teams get a wider look at prospects, depth players, and lineup combinations without sacrificing a full game’s worth of evaluation.
What Toronto Supporters Should Track
The final score will not reveal much on its own. What matters more is who earns ice time, who is trusted in key moments, and which younger players are thrown into tough situations.
Leafs fans should keep an eye on a few specific areas:
- Which prospects are used in meaningful minutes
- Which players are paired with established NHL regulars
- How the coaching staff experiments on special teams
- Whether any new combinations show early chemistry
Preseason games often serve as trial runs. Power-play units can be shuffled, penalty-kill groups can be tested, and coaches can see what works without regular-season pressure.
Montréal Opens With Confidence
The Canadiens arrive with plenty of momentum after a strong 2025-26 season. Montréal finished with 106 points and advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference Final, a run that raised expectations around the franchise.
The organization also made its faith in Martin St. Louis official by giving the head coach a multi-year extension. That move removes uncertainty heading into camp and signals that the team wants continuity behind the bench.
St. Louis has guided a clear rise in performance. Montréal’s point totals have climbed steadily from 68 in 2022-23 to 76, then 91, and finally 106 last season.
That progression has changed the way the team is viewed. The Canadiens are no longer simply an up-and-coming group; they now enter the year expected to compete again.
A Preview of the Real Opener
Saturday’s games are only the first chapter. Toronto and Montréal will meet again when the regular season starts on September 29, which makes this preseason opener feel like an early look at a matchup that will matter much more soon.
The lineups will be different by then, and the pace should be sharper, but the rivalry itself needs no introduction. For both fan bases, this is a classic showdown that still carries weight no matter when it is played.
For Canadian hockey fans, September 19 is a clear sign that summer is winding down. The NHL is back, the Leafs and Canadiens are back, and the new season is ready to begin.
