One Last Chance for Both Habs and Sens

Saturday closes the preseason with split-squad pressure

The Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators wrap up their preseason on Saturday, September 26, with two games running at the same time in Montreal and Ottawa. Each club is splitting its camp roster, so one group will skate in one city while another group handles the other matchup.

That setup changes the way the night should be read. The familiar team names matter less than the actual lineups, because the players assigned to each game will shape the pace, the scoring chances, and the overall value of any betting angle.

Why the final exhibition games are about evaluation, not just the score

The result still counts on paper, but the real focus is on roster decisions. Coaches get one more look at players in different roles, unusual line combinations, and special-teams assignments before the games start to matter for real.

For Montreal, the timing is especially important because training camp runs through September 26 and the regular-season opener against Toronto arrives on September 29. Anyone fighting for a spot has only one more day to make a convincing case.

Ottawa is in a similar position. With two games on the same night, the Senators can spread out ice time and give more players a meaningful test before the preseason ends. Watch for who gets power-play duty, who is trusted late in a close game, and which goaltenders take on the heavier load.

Team situation	What to watch	Why it matters
Canadiens	Roster bubble players and line combinations	Final chance to earn regular-season minutes
Senators	Power-play usage and goaltending splits	Helps reveal who is closest to opening-night roles
Both clubs	Separate lineups in separate cities	Creates two very different games on the same schedule

The earlier meeting showed how dangerous this matchup can be

The Canadiens and Senators already crossed paths once this preseason, and Montreal came back to win 3-2 in overtime on September 21 in Trois-Rivières. Cole Caufield scored twice in that game, including the overtime winner.

That earlier result is useful context, but it should not be treated like a direct preview of Saturday’s games. Split squads can produce completely different styles, depending on which forwards dress and who starts in goal.

A lineup with more established NHL players can look far stronger than the other game being played at the same time. The same is true in net, where a different starter can swing both the expected result and the outlook for a goals-total wager.

How bettors should approach the two games

Anyone looking at the moneyline should first confirm which city and which roster are attached to the number. The best-looking price on the board may already account for a stronger group of players, so the details matter more than the team logo.

Totals are even more sensitive. Young goaltenders, experimental defensive pairs, and a loose preseason structure can push a game toward the over, while veteran lineups and a steadier starter may point in the other direction.

Player props can also be worth a look if a forward is expected to log real minutes and receive regular offensive-zone usage. Still, preseason ice time is rarely predictable, so it is risky to assume a known name will play a full game or keep the same power-play role it has during the regular season.

What Saturday should tell fans

The final score will matter less than the details inside both games. The most useful clues will come from who handles the toughest assignments, which combinations create chances, and which players look ready for NHL pace.

Those performances will say far more about the season ahead than either preseason scoreboard on its own.