NHL preseason starts today with eight matchups scheduled
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 19, 2026, 10:03 AM
Last updated Sep 19, 2026
The 2026 NHL preseason begins today, September 19, with eight games on the schedule. Each team will play four preseason games, except for the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, who will play five. The preseason will conclude one week later, leading into the expanded 2026-27 regular season, which opens on September 29.
- •2026 preseason features shorter schedule due to longer regular season
- •Montreal and Ottawa play five preseason games
- •Trainings camps opened on September 17
- •First games include Dallas at St. Louis and Winnipeg at Edmonton
- •Regular season includes an increase to 84 games per team
- 10:03 AMYahoo Sports — When does NHL preseason start? Here's the full 2026 schedule
"The 2026 NHL preseason will be shorter this season as the regular season expands. Here's a look at the full preseason schedule.
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