Hockey returns on Saturday, September 19, when the 2026-27 NHL preseason gets underway, and the first headline matchup features two of Canada’s most familiar teams.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montréal Canadiens will open against each other in a split-squad format, with games starting at the same time in two cities. Both puck drops are set for 7 p.m. ET.
Two Arenas, One Rivalry, Same Start Time
This double matchup is intentional, not a scheduling error. Each club is dividing its roster so one group plays at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto while another takes the ice at the Bell Centre in Montréal.
That setup gives both coaching staffs a practical way to see more players in live action on the same night. With preseason time limited, every chance to evaluate depth players and try out different line combinations matters more than usual.
The preseason itself will run from September 19 through September 26, and the regular season begins just three days later on September 29.
- Split-squad games allow teams to test more players at once.
- Both Maple Leafs-Canadiens games begin at 7 p.m. ET.
- One game is in Toronto, and the other is in Montréal.
- The shortened preseason makes each appearance more valuable.
A Shorter Tune-Up Before Opening Night
The NHL has adjusted its schedule this year, expanding the regular season from 82 games to 84 while trimming the preseason. That leaves clubs with fewer exhibition dates to sort out roster battles and prepare veterans for the real schedule.
For players on the bubble, the pressure is higher because there are fewer opportunities to stand out. For coaches, that means decisions about prospects and role players have to come quickly.
It also makes early preseason games more meaningful than they might look on paper. Teams are not just chasing wins; they are trying to leave camp with answers.
What Toronto Supporters Should Pay Attention To
Maple Leafs fans should not judge this matchup only by the final score. The more useful details will come from who gets featured, who earns tougher minutes, and which young players are trusted alongside established NHL names.
Special teams deserve attention as well. Preseason is the time to experiment with power-play units and penalty-kill groups without the consequences that come with regular-season standings.
In other words, the most interesting part may be how the Leafs deploy their lineup rather than whether they beat Montréal on a September night.
Montréal Arrives With Real Confidence
The Canadiens head into the new season with momentum after a strong 2025-26 campaign. Montréal finished with 106 points and made a run to the Eastern Conference Final, a major step forward for the franchise.
The team also solidified its direction by giving head coach Martin St. Louis a multi-year contract extension. That move removes uncertainty and lets training camp begin with stability behind the bench.
St. Louis has guided a steady rise in results:
- 68 points in 2022-23
- 76 points the following season
- 91 points after that
- 106 points last year
That climb has reshaped the expectations in Montréal. The Canadiens are no longer viewed simply as a rebuilding team taking baby steps; they now enter the season expected to compete.
Why September 19 Matters Beyond Preseason
The rivalry does not end with the exhibition opener. Toronto and Montréal will meet again when the regular season begins on September 29, making this preseason night an early preview of a far more important collision.
The rosters may change and the pace will sharpen, but the setting remains familiar: two historic franchises, one of hockey’s biggest rivalries, and a new season beginning with immediate attention on both sides of the border.
For Canadian hockey fans, it is the unofficial end of summer and the clearest sign that the NHL is back.
