The Montréal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators finish their NHL preseason on Saturday, September 26, with two split-squad games played in Montréal and Ottawa. That means each club divides its players between two lineups competing on the same day.
For fans, it creates two stories to follow at once. Established players are preparing for the regular season, while others have one more opportunity to show where they fit. For anyone considering a wager, it also makes the usual team names on the betting board less useful than the actual players assigned to each game.
Why these games matter more than the results
A preseason win is welcome, but Saturday is primarily about decisions. Coaches can use the final games to assess players in different roles, look at possible line combinations and decide who is ready for regular-season minutes.
Montréal’s training camp runs through September 26, with its regular-season opener against Toronto scheduled for September 29. Saturday is therefore a final chance for players on the roster bubble to leave an impression.
Ottawa faces a similar task. With two games on the schedule, the Senators can give more players meaningful ice time before the preseason ends. Pay attention to who receives power-play minutes, who plays late in a close game and which goaltenders are given the heavier workload.
The earlier meeting offered a taste of this rivalry
The Canadiens and Senators have already met during this preseason. Montréal came back to beat Ottawa 3–2 in overtime in their September 21 game in Trois-Rivières, with Cole Caufield scoring twice. Saturday’s games bring the rivals together again, but split squads mean the earlier result should not be treated as a direct preview of either matchup.
That distinction matters. A game featuring more established forwards on one side could look very different from the simultaneous meeting in the other city. The same applies in goal: a change of starter can affect both the likely result and the appeal of a goals-total bet.
Canadiens vs. Senators betting angles
Check the two lineups separately before considering either moneyline. One squad may have more NHL regulars, but the price could already reflect that advantage. Confirm which game your sportsbook is listing, including the venue, before placing a bet.
Goals totals are especially sensitive to the starting goaltenders. If a game features young goalies and experimental defensive pairings, an over may look appealing. If experienced goaltenders start behind stronger lineups, the case could change. Neither angle is reliable until the teams announce who is playing.
A small player-prop bet may be interesting if a forward expected to receive substantial ice time is listed at a reasonable price. Preseason usage is difficult to predict, however, so avoid assuming a familiar name will play a full game or receive its usual power-play role.
What to watch on Saturday
Rather than judging the Canadiens or Senators by a single final score, look at the individual performances across both games. Which players earn difficult minutes? Which combinations create chances? And who looks ready for the faster pace of the regular season?
Those answers will tell fans more about the coming NHL season than either preseason result alone.