5 Must-Watch Canadiens Games This Season – The Hockey Writers – Montreal Canadiens

The NHL has officially released the 2026-27 regular-season schedule, giving the Montreal Canadiens fans their first look at the road ahead. Expectations are much higher than they were a year ago after Montreal reached the Eastern Conference Final, and every game will carry a little more weight this season.

The schedule features emotional reunions, outdoor hockey, playoff rematches and a season-ending stretch that could determine whether the Canadiens return to the postseason. Here are five dates and stretches that stand out the most.

Home Opener Against the Defending Champions

It won’t take long for the Bell Centre to host one of the biggest games of the season. After opening the regular season on the road, the Canadiens will welcome the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes on October 6 for their home opener. The matchup is loaded with storylines after Carolina eliminated Montreal in the Eastern Conference Final last spring on its way to winning the Stanley Cup.

The atmosphere should be incredible. The Bell Centre was already one of the loudest buildings in hockey during last year’s playoff run, and welcoming the champions for the first home game of the season should create another unforgettable night.

For the Canadiens, it will also be an early measuring-stick game. Carolina remains one of the NHL’s elite teams, and Montreal will get a chance to see how it stacks up against the league’s best right away. It’s only one game in an 84-game season, but it could provide an early glimpse of how much the Canadiens have progressed.

Gallagher Returns to the Bell Centre

March 6 will be one of the most emotional nights of the season. The Vancouver Canucks will visit Montreal for Brendan Gallagher‘s first game at the Bell Centre since leaving the Canadiens organization. After playing more than 900 games wearing the CH, Gallagher became one of the most beloved players of his generation in Montreal.

From his fearless style of play to his leadership in the dressing room, Gallagher embodied what it meant to be a Canadien. He battled through countless injuries, never took a shift off and became a fan favourite for over a decade.

The Bell Centre crowd will almost certainly give him a lengthy standing ovation before puck drop. While the Canadiens will be looking for two important points, the night will also be about celebrating one of the franchise’s most respected players of the modern era.

Outdoor Hockey Returns

One of the most unique games of the season will take place in Winnipeg. The Canadiens will travel west on October 25 to face the Winnipeg Jets in the NHL Heritage Classic at Princess Auto Stadium, bringing outdoor hockey back to Canada once again.

Outdoor games always create memorable moments, and Montreal has been involved in several iconic ones throughout NHL history. Whether it’s the special jerseys, the outdoor atmosphere or the unpredictable weather, Heritage Classic games always feel different from a normal regular-season matchup.

A Brutal Final Stretch

If the Canadiens are fighting for playoff positioning, the final week of the season could be nerve-racking. Between April 6 and April 10, Montreal will close the regular season with three consecutive road games against Atlantic Division rivals that all have playoff aspiration this season: the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators.

There won’t be many tougher ways to end a season. Not only are all three teams expected to be in the playoff race again, but divisional games become even more intense this late in the year. Every point matters, and there’s a very real possibility that these games could determine playoff seeding, or even whether the Canadiens qualify at all. Winning on the road in Florida, Tampa Bay and Ottawa is never easy, making this one of the toughest stretches on Montreal’s entire schedule.

Opening Night in Toronto

The season officially begins on September 29, and the NHL couldn’t have picked a better matchup. The Canadiens will open the campaign on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs, renewing one of hockey’s greatest rivalries from day one.

While Toronto had a disappointing season last year, the rivalry between these Original Six franchises never loses its intensity. Every meeting between Montreal and Toronto carries extra emotion, regardless of where the teams sit in the standings.

Opening the season against a division rival also means there’s no easing into the new campaign. Both teams will be looking to make an early statement, and a strong performance could provide valuable momentum heading into the opening weeks of the season.

With emotional reunions, playoff rematches, outdoor hockey and a difficult finish, the Canadiens’ 2026-27 schedule is packed with compelling storylines. If Montreal hopes to build on last year’s deep playoff run, these games could become some of the defining moments of another exciting season.