Hockey is officially back, and the NHL preseason starts with one of the sport’s best-known rivalries.
On Saturday, September 19, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montréal Canadiens will kick off their exhibition schedules with a split-squad setup that puts both teams on the ice at the same time in two cities.
Each game is set for 7 p.m. ET, giving fans in Toronto and Montréal an immediate taste of the season ahead.
This unusual opener is not a mistake. Both clubs are dividing their rosters so one group plays at Scotiabank Arena while another takes the ice at the Bell Centre.
The arrangement lets coaches evaluate more players in real game situations without waiting for another night on the preseason calendar.
With only a short preseason window, every opportunity to test lineups matters more than usual.
The NHL has changed its calendar for 2026-27, and that affects how teams prepare.
The regular season grows from 82 games to 84, while the preseason gets shorter. That leaves less room for trial and error before the games begin to count.
For players trying to win a roster spot, the margin for error is smaller than in past years.
The Maple Leafs are not likely to treat the result as the main story. Their focus will be on player evaluation, chemistry, and the best possible mix for opening night.
Younger skaters should get a close look, especially those competing for depth roles. Coaches will also use the game to see which prospects can handle tougher assignments alongside established NHL players.
Special teams will matter too, even in a preseason setting. Exhibition games offer a clean chance to try different power-play groups and penalty-killing pairings without the pressure of standings points.
The Canadiens enter this preseason in a much stronger position than they have been in recent years. Last season, they finished with 106 points and pushed all the way to the Eastern Conference Final.
That success has been matched by stability behind the bench. Montréal has given head coach Martin St. Louis a multi-year extension, signaling trust in the direction he has built.
The team’s progress under St. Louis has been steady and measurable:
That kind of climb changes expectations. Montréal is no longer just trying to get better; it is expected to compete.
Saturday’s preseason meeting is only a preview, but it carries plenty of meaning because these teams will meet again when the regular season opens on September 29.
That gives fans a quick second look at the same matchup, only with higher stakes and fuller lineups just ten days later.
The rivalry will look a little different by then, but the tension that defines Leafs-Canadiens hockey will be there as soon as the puck drops.
Both split-squad games are scheduled for Saturday, September 19 at 7 p.m. ET.
One will be played in Toronto and the other in Montréal, making it a true coast-to-coast-style reminder that a new NHL season has arrived.
For Canadian hockey fans, that is the clearest sign that summer is over and the long wait is done.
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