Hockey returns with an early burst of familiar energy. The 2026-27 NHL preseason starts on Saturday, September 19, and it opens with one of the sport’s most recognizable matchups.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Montréal Canadiens will face each other right away, and they will do it in a rare split-squad format. One game will be played in Toronto and the other in Montréal, both beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
For fans who have waited through the summer, this is about as fitting a welcome-back moment as the NHL could offer.
A Split-Squad Setup That Raises the Stakes
This double matchup is intentional, not a glitch in the calendar. Each club is dividing its roster, with one group taking the ice at Scotiabank Arena and the other skating at the Bell Centre.
The approach gives coaches a chance to see more players in live action on the same night. That matters even more when exhibition games are limited and every shift becomes a chance to make an impression.
- Toronto and Montréal both play on September 19 at 7 p.m. ET.
- One contest is in Toronto, the other in Montréal.
- Split squads let teams evaluate more players at once.
- The preseason window is shorter than before, so every game counts more.
The League Calendar Leaves Less Room for Preparation
The NHL has adjusted its schedule for 2026-27, and the change affects how teams approach September. The regular season grows from 82 games to 84, while the preseason is trimmed down.
That creates a tighter runway for coaches, especially when it comes to testing prospects, blending lines, and deciding who fits where. Players competing for the last roster spots will have fewer chances to stand out.
| Category | 2026-27 Format |
|---|---|
| Regular season games | 84 |
| Preseason length | Shortened |
| Preseason dates | September 19 to September 26 |
| Regular season start | September 29 |
What Toronto Supporters Should Pay Attention To
Preseason scores rarely reveal much on their own. Toronto’s main goal will be sorting out personnel and combinations rather than chasing the result against Montréal.
Watch for which younger skaters earn meaningful ice time and which prospects are trusted with NHL regulars. Those choices can say more than the final score ever will.
Special teams are another useful clue. Coaches often use exhibition games to try new power-play units and penalty-killing groups without the pressure that comes with regular-season points.
In preseason hockey, the real story is often who gets the opportunity, not who wins the night.
Montréal Brings Confidence Into the New Season
The Canadiens enter this year with real momentum after a strong 2025-26 campaign. They finished with 106 points and advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference Final.
That success has been matched by organizational trust in Martin St. Louis, who received a multi-year contract extension. The move gives Montréal stability at a time when many teams are still trying to settle their identity.
St. Louis has guided a steady climb in results. The Canadiens moved from 68 points in 2022-23 to 76, then 91, and finally 106 last season.
That rise has changed expectations. Montréal is no longer viewed only as a rebuilding team; it now enters the season with the pressure that comes from being taken seriously again.
The Rivalry Gets a Second Act Ten Days Later
Saturday’s preseason meeting is only the first chapter. The Maple Leafs and Canadiens will also meet again when the regular season begins on September 29.
That quick rematch gives the opener a little extra meaning. The lineups will shift and the atmosphere will intensify, but the rivalry itself already has its place as one of hockey’s most enduring.
For Canadian fans, the return of Leafs versus Canadiens is more than just another preseason date. It is the clearest sign that the NHL season is finally back in motion.
