As summer winds down in Quebec, hockey fans can finally start looking ahead to the return of the NHL. The 2026–2027 campaign arrives with a heavier schedule, a Canadiens team coming off an unforgettable spring, and an opener that should draw major attention across the province.
September will provide the first real glimpse of what lies ahead, from exhibition games to league-wide changes that will shape the months after them. For fans eager to mark their calendars, this month is the unofficial start of hockey season.
A compact preseason with three key dates
The Montreal Canadiens have released a preseason slate that is unusual in both shape and pace. Instead of spreading five games across many days, the team will play all five on just three dates.
- September 19: Split-squad games against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Montreal and Toronto
- September 21: A trip to Trois-Rivières to face the Ottawa Senators at Colisée Vidéotron for a Kraft Hockeyville event
- September 26: Another set of split-squad games, this time against Ottawa
The Sept. 21 matchup is especially notable for local supporters, since it gives fans in the region a rare chance to see NHL talent up close. Home tickets have been available since August 5, giving followers plenty of time to plan ahead.
What the new NHL calendar means
This season will also feel different because of the league’s expanded format. Each team is set to play 84 regular-season games, which adds two more contests per club and pushes the league total to 1,344 games.
The regular season is scheduled to finish on April 16, leaving teams with a slightly tighter race and fans with more nights on the calendar. That extra workload should make every stretch of the season feel a little more crowded and competitive.
Why September matters before the first puck drops
Preseason results rarely tell the whole story, but they do reveal early lineup ideas, prospect opportunities, and the first signs of how teams want to play. For Montreal, these games also serve as an early bridge between last season’s momentum and the expectations that follow.
With a shortened exhibition window, an expanded regular season, and a strong local interest in the Canadiens, September carries more weight than a typical warm-up month. Hockey may not count in the standings yet, but the season’s rhythm begins here.
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