There is a lot to like about the Montreal Canadiens' schedule for the upcoming 2026-27 season, from a high-profile Opening Night matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs to an outdoor game against the Winnipeg Jets at the end of October, and also three home games right after Christmas.
As much as there is to like about this schedule, there are tough stretches that are going to test this team. Every team has these parts of their schedule, and this isn't any different for the Montreal Canadiens. However, it isn't just who they play in these stretches, but when it happens in the schedule.
Unfortunately for the Canadiens, their toughest stretch comes at the worst possible time of the schedule.
Montreal Canadiens are going to be tested at the end of the regular season
NHL schedule makers didn't do the Canadiens any favors with the way they close out the regular season with five of their final six games on the road. It starts on March 30th in Boston against the Bruins before they play their final home game of the regular season on April 1st against the New York Rangers.
They then hit the road for four straight road games against the New York Islanders, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the regular-season finale against the Ottawa Senators.
Over the final six games, they will be playing three teams from the playoffs last season (Boston, Tampa Bay, and Ottawa). When you add in a much-improved Florida Panthers team and a New York Islanders team that was competitive and just missed out on the playoffs, this Montreal Canadiens team will be really tested.
While it is hard to predict how the season will play out at this point, it is realistic to expect that the Canadiens could be competing with five of these teams for either a playoff spot or the Atlantic Division. The fact that these games are coming at the end of the season, a season that is now two games longer than last year, it will be the Montreal Canadiens biggest test of the 2026-27 season.
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