As summer winds down, hockey chatter is starting to build again across Quebec. The 2026–2027 NHL season arrives with a tighter calendar, a memorable Canadiens spring still fresh in memory, and an opening stretch that will draw plenty of attention from fans across the province.
This month offers the best early look at what is coming next. Between preseason action, a longer league schedule, and a few dates worth circling now, September sets the tone for the months ahead.
Preseason Games Give Montreal Fans an Early Look
Montreal has already released its preseason slate, and the Canadiens will play five exhibition games on only three dates. That condensed setup gives the team a quick tune-up before the real schedule begins.
The action starts on September 19 with split-squad meetings against the Toronto Maple Leafs, with one game in Montreal and the other in Toronto at the same time. Two days later, on September 21, the Canadiens head to Trois-Rivières to meet the Ottawa Senators at Colisée Vidéotron as part of a Kraft Hockeyville celebration. On September 26, the preseason wraps up with another set of split-squad games against Ottawa.
Fans who want to attend the home games have had their chance to buy tickets since August 5, which leaves plenty of time to plan a night at the rink.
A Busier NHL Calendar Changes the Pace
The league itself is also entering a different rhythm this season. Each club will now play 84 regular-season games instead of 82, pushing the league total to 1,344 games and stretching the grind a little further for every roster.
That added workload makes the months ahead feel even more demanding, especially for teams trying to stay healthy and steady through the spring. The regular season is scheduled to end on April 16, so clubs will have a little less room for error in a packed race.
| Key Date | What Happens | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| September 19 | Split-squad games vs. Toronto | First preseason test for the Canadiens |
| September 21 | Game in Trois-Rivières vs. Ottawa | Local fans get a rare live look |
| September 26 | Split-squad games vs. Ottawa | Final preseason action before opening night |
| April 16 | Regular season ends | Marks the close of the new 84-game schedule |
Why This Month Matters for Quebec Hockey
September is more than a warm-up period. It is the first real checkpoint for fans eager to see how Montreal looks after a strong spring and how the new schedule might shape the season’s rhythm.
For supporters in Quebec, it is also the month when hockey shifts from a summer memory back into a daily conversation. Every game, roster decision, and early impression starts to feel meaningful long before the standings do.