Montreal’s Preseason Starts Quickly
As summer winds down, Quebec hockey followers are turning their attention back to the National Hockey League. The 2026–2027 campaign is set to feel different, with a fuller schedule, a Canadiens team fresh off a memorable spring, and an opening night that should draw strong interest across the province.
Montreal’s preseason calendar is already set, and it is packed into just three dates with five games overall. The Canadiens open on September 19 with split-squad meetings against the Toronto Maple Leafs, with one game in Montreal and the other in Toronto.
Two days later, on September 21, the club heads to Trois-Rivières to meet the Ottawa Senators at Colisée Vidéotron as part of a Kraft Hockeyville celebration. That game should give local supporters a rare chance to see NHL action up close.
A Busier Regular Season Awaits
The league is also shifting into a longer format. Each team will now play 84 regular-season games instead of the previous total, pushing the NHL schedule to 1,344 games leaguewide and extending the grind through April 16.
For fans, that means more nights on the calendar and more chances to track playoff races as they develop. It also gives the season a different rhythm, with less margin for slow starts and more emphasis on depth over the long haul.
Montreal closes its preseason on September 26 with another set of split-squad games against Ottawa. Home-game tickets have been available since August 5, so supporters who want to attend already have their window to plan ahead.
Why This Month Matters
September is more than a warm-up period. It is when roster battles begin to sharpen, travel starts to matter, and anticipation builds around the first meaningful puck drop of the year.
For Canadiens fans, this month offers the first real look at how the team is shaping up for a longer, more demanding season. The regular season may still be weeks away, but the countdown is already underway.