Hockey season is almost here again, and Canada’s most famous rivalry is the first big spotlight of the preseason.
The 2026-27 NHL preseason starts on Saturday, September 19, and the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montréal Canadiens will face each other right away in an unusual split-squad format. Both games begin at 7 p.m. ET, with one matchup in Toronto and the other in Montréal.
Two Games, One Rivalry, Same Night
This is not a clerical error or a quirk of the calendar. The clubs are dividing their rosters so two separate games can happen at once, giving coaches a fuller look at their players without using extra dates.
Part of Toronto’s lineup will skate at Scotiabank Arena while another group takes the ice at the Bell Centre. The same setup applies to Montréal, making it possible for each staff to test more players in live action during a short preseason window.
| Game | Location | Start Time |
|---|---|---|
| Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens, split squad | Scotiabank Arena, Toronto | 7 p.m. ET |
| Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs, split squad | Bell Centre, Montréal | 7 p.m. ET |
That approach matters even more now that the preseason has been compressed. The NHL’s exhibition schedule runs from September 19 through September 26, and the regular season opens on September 29.
A Shorter Tune-Up, A Longer Regular Season
The league’s calendar has shifted in a major way. The regular season has grown from 82 games to 84, but the preseason has been trimmed, leaving teams fewer chances to sort out lineups and evaluate depth.
For coaches, that means every shift in September matters more than it used to. For players competing for a roster spot, one strong game can carry real weight because there are fewer opportunities to stand out.
What Toronto Fans Should Keep an Eye On
Preseason scorelines can be misleading, so Toronto’s focus will be on individual evaluation rather than the final result. The main questions involve which young players earn meaningful ice time and who gets placed alongside established NHL talent.
Special teams will also be worth watching. Exhibition games give coaches room to test power-play units and penalty-killing combinations without the pressure that comes with regular-season points on the line.
Montréal Brings Confidence Into Camp
The Canadiens arrive with real momentum after a strong 2025-26 season. Montréal finished with 106 points and reached the Eastern Conference Final, a sign that the rebuild has moved into a more ambitious stage.
The organization added to that stability by giving head coach Martin St. Louis a multi-year extension. That decision removes uncertainty heading into camp and lets the team start the year with a clear direction behind the bench.
St. Louis has helped reshape expectations in Montréal. The Canadiens have climbed from 68 points in 2022-23 to 76, then 91, and finally 106 last season, which has changed the way the fan base views the club.
What once looked like a young team searching for growth now looks like a group expected to compete. Saturday’s split-squad games offer the first look at how that next step begins.
The Rivalry Is Back on the Calendar Fast
These preseason matchups are only the first chapter. Toronto and Montréal will meet again when the regular season begins on September 29, giving this opener the feel of an early preview for a much more meaningful showdown.
The rosters will be different and the intensity will rise, but the appeal remains the same. For Canadian hockey fans, September 19 marks the first real sign that summer is over and the NHL is back in motion.