As summer winds down, Quebec hockey followers can start counting the days until the National Hockey League opens its new campaign. The 2026–2027 season arrives with a fuller calendar, a Canadiens team that is coming off an unforgettable spring, and an opening night that should draw plenty of attention across the province.
A Compact Preseason Set for the Canadiens
Montreal has already released its preseason slate, and the schedule is packed into just three dates while still featuring five total games.
- September 19: split-squad matchups against the Toronto Maple Leafs in both Montreal and Toronto.
- September 21: a visit to Trois-Rivières to meet the Ottawa Senators at Colisée Vidéotron during a Kraft Hockeyville celebration.
- September 26: another pair of split-squad games, this time facing Ottawa to close out the exhibition calendar.
For fans in the region, the Trois-Rivières stop should be especially appealing, since it brings NHL players to a local rink in a community event setting. Home-game tickets have been available since August 5, giving supporters time to secure seats well ahead of puck drop.
Why This NHL Season Feels Different
The league is also introducing a longer regular season, with every team scheduled for 84 games instead of the previous total. That adds up to 1,344 games across the NHL, and the final night of the regular season is set for April 16.
The added dates make the calendar a little tighter than usual, which should increase the pace of the race for playoff positioning. With more games, more travel, and more pressure, September becomes the first real marker of how teams plan to handle the year ahead.
What Fans Should Watch This Month
September is more than just exhibition hockey. It is the month when lineups start to take shape, newcomers try to earn spots, and anticipation builds around the Canadiens’ next chapter.
For Montreal supporters, that means keeping an eye on three major storylines:
- How the roster looks in preseason games.
- How the team handles a busier 84-game schedule.
- How much excitement surrounds the return to meaningful hockey in the province.
