TOR-MTL: What you need to know

MONTREAL/TORONTO – The Canadiens open their 2026-27 preseason schedule with not one, but two simultaneous split-squad games against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. 

Two groups from Habs training camp will face off against a pair of Leafs teams at both the Bell Centre in Montreal and Scotiabank Arena in Toronto as of 7:00 p.m. 

It’s the first of two dates featuring split-squad exhibition contests this month, as the NHL introduces a shortened preseason ahead of its expanded 84-game schedule. 

Here’s what you need to know heading into the game: 

GAME FACTS

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE BELL CENTRE 

Road closures 

In connection with the UCI Road World Championships Montréal 2026, taking place from September 20 to 27, traffic disruptions are expected around the city as early as Saturday. Fans are encouraged to plan arrival and departure times accordingly and to prioritize public transit. 

New arena additions 

While the teams on the ice fine tune their preparations for opening night, some new additions at the Bell Centre for the 2026-27 season are already set to debut. 

Fans in Montreal can see what’s new at M2 Marché Montréal Loto-Québec as of Saturday: 

• New CHarbon-branded concession counter, featuring ribs, chicken wings, and sides; 

• New free-to-play arcade machines; 

• New concession items at every counter.

LINEUP NEWS 

Groups at training camp are scheduled for morning skates at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, which will give a clearer picture of the projected lineups for both games. 

Keep an eye on the Canadiens social accounts for any potential lineup news and check back closer to puck drop for the full official lineups. 

Head coach Martin St-Louis and select players are also slated to address the media in Brossard. To catch St-Louis’ pregame press conference and player availabilities, subscribe to or follow the team (@CanadiensMTL) on YouTube, Facebook and X.