Hockey is back, and the schedule starts with a matchup that feels bigger than an exhibition. On Saturday, September 19, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montréal Canadiens meet to begin the 2026-27 NHL preseason, with both teams skating in split-squad games at the same time.
One game will be held at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, while the other takes place at the Bell Centre in Montréal. Both faceoffs are set for 7 p.m. ET, giving fans in both cities an early look at the sport’s most recognizable Canadian rivalry.
How the Split-Squad Setup Works
This unusual arrangement is deliberate, not a mistake in the calendar. Each club has divided its roster into two groups so more players can get into game action on the same night.
The format gives coaches a better chance to assess prospects, depth pieces, and lineup combinations while the preseason is still short. With fewer exhibition dates available this year, every chance to evaluate players matters more than it used to.
The NHL preseason runs from September 19 through September 26, and the regular season opens on September 29. That compressed window makes these double matchups especially valuable for teams trying to sort out roles quickly.
Why This Preseason Feels More Important
The league’s schedule has changed in a way that raises the stakes a little for everyone. The regular season has grown from 82 games to 84, while the preseason has been trimmed back.
That leaves clubs with less room to test lineups, audition young players, and fine-tune special teams before the games begin to count. For veterans, it means fewer tune-up appearances. For players on the bubble, it means fewer opportunities to leave a strong impression.
The result is a preseason where each shift carries more weight. Even though the standings do not matter yet, roster decisions absolutely do.
What Toronto Supporters Should Track
Toronto’s main focus will be evaluation, not the final score. The coaching staff will be looking for signs that younger players can handle NHL pace and that certain combinations can work under pressure.
Fans should pay close attention to which players receive meaningful ice time and which skaters are placed next to more established teammates. Those pairings often reveal how the staff views a player’s chances of making the team or earning a bigger role.
Special teams are another important area to watch. Preseason games are a useful place to try different power-play units and penalty-killing groups without the pressure that comes with losing regular-season points.
Why Montréal Enters With a Different Kind of Energy
There is real optimism around the Canadiens after a strong 2025-26 season. Montréal finished with 106 points and reached the Eastern Conference Final, a sign that the organization’s rebuild has moved into a more ambitious stage.
That progress has been matched by stability behind the bench. Martin St. Louis recently received a multi-year contract extension, removing uncertainty about his future and allowing the team to start camp with confidence in its coach.
The Canadiens have improved steadily under St. Louis, climbing from 68 points in 2022-23 to 76, then 91, and finally 106 last season. That steady rise has changed the tone around the club and raised expectations for what comes next.
A Rivalry That Will Not Wait for Opening Night
Saturday’s preseason meeting is only the first chapter. Toronto and Montréal will face each other again when the regular season begins on September 29, so this early game offers a preview of a much more meaningful meeting just ten days later.
The lineups will look different when the games start to count, and the tempo will almost certainly rise, but the tension between these teams never disappears. Even in September, this is still one of the sport’s defining rivalries.
For fans, that makes the opener feel like the unofficial end of summer. The NHL is back, the Leafs and Canadiens are back on the ice, and a new season is ready to begin.
- Saturday, September 19 marks the start of the preseason for both teams.
- Each game begins at 7 p.m. ET in Toronto and Montréal.
- The split-squad format lets both clubs evaluate more players at once.
- The regular season starts on September 29, making this a fast-moving lead-in to meaningful games.
