As summer winds down, hockey attention in Quebec starts turning toward the NHL’s return. The 2026–2027 campaign already feels notable, with a fuller calendar, a Canadiens team coming off an unforgettable spring, and an opening night that should draw plenty of interest across the province.
The Canadiens’ September Tune-Up
Montreal has released its preseason slate, and the setup is unusual: five exhibition games packed into just three dates.
The action opens on September 19 with split-squad matchups against the Toronto Maple Leafs, with one game in Montreal and the other in Toronto at the same time. Two days later, the Canadiens head to Trois-Rivières to meet the Ottawa Senators at Colisée Vidéotron as part of a Kraft Hockeyville celebration.
The preseason wraps up on September 26 with another split-squad set, this time against Ottawa. Home-game tickets have been available since August 5, giving fans an early chance to plan their return to the arena.
A Busier NHL Calendar Than Before
The league’s regular season is expanding again, with every team scheduled for 84 games instead of the previous total. That adds up to 1,344 games across the NHL, and the final night of the regular season is set for April 16.
That extra workload may not sound dramatic on paper, but it changes the rhythm of the season. Teams will have less margin for error, more travel, and fewer quiet stretches between key games.
What Quebec Fans Should Watch Closely
- The Canadiens’ split-squad games will offer an early look at roster depth.
- The Trois-Rivières stop should create a strong local buzz for one preseason night.
- The longer schedule will test consistency from opening week through spring.
- April 16 marks the end of a packed regular season and the road to the playoffs.
Why This Month Matters
September is where anticipation starts to turn into real hockey. For Canadiens supporters, it is the first chance to see how the team looks before the games begin to count, and for the league as a whole, it is the first sign of a season that should feel a little bigger and a little more demanding than usual.
