Dates Canadiens Fans Should Mark On Their Calendar

Now that the NHL schedule has been released, fans can start planning which games they’d like to attend and find out when interesting foes are dropping by. Here are five occasions Montreal Canadiens’ fans should consider putting on their calendar.Home OpenerIt’s always a treat to be amongst the first 21,000 people to see the Canadiens’ new opening montage and the light effects. This year, as a bonus, fans will also get an Eastern Conference Final rematch since Rod Brind’Amour and his Carolina Hurricanes will be in town to kick off the Bell Center’s season on October 6.The Big ReturnI’ll admit it, as soon as I saw the schedule I looked for one game: Brendan Gallagher’s homecoming. Fans will have to be patient for that one. The Habs will face the Vancouver Canucks on February 1, but that will be in British Columbia. Gallagher’s new team will only come to Montreal on March 6. Fingers crossed that the veteran hasn’t been traded to a contender by then; it would be a shame if fans didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. The trade deadline is on March 8, 2027; hopefully Gallagher will be fit as a fiddle and still play for Canucks.Un coéquipier sans pareil et notre éternel guerrier. Merci à Brendan Gallagher pour tout ce qu’il a fait pour la ville de Montréal, tant sur la glace qu’à l’extérieur, et on lui souhaite le meilleur à Vancouver ❤️The ultimate teammate and forever our warrior. Thank you for… pic.twitter.com/hvJqTor3sy— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 29, 2026Canadiens and Dach Avoid Arbitration - Explaining The Cap HitCanadiens’ Fowler Tops The RankingsThe Answer To A Couple Of The Canadiens’ Big Issues Could Be InternalA Christmas Double HeaderNormally around Christmas and the New Year, it’s impossible to catch a game at the Bell Centre because the Canadiens are always on the road. Not this year. Forget about Disney on Ice; this time around, the Habs will be hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs on Boxing Day and the Dallas Stars on December 27- talk about a great present idea.Ringing In The New YearIn recent years, the Canadiens have played on New Year's Eve either at 5:00 PM or 7:00 PM; this year, you won’t have to fight with your family for the remote if they want to watch the end-of-year TV specials. The Habs will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at 2:00 PM on December 31st in Florida.The Final CountdownIf there’s a tight race to the finish, whether it’s for the playoffs or for the right spot in the standings, the end of the season could be very exciting for the Canadiens, who will play their last three games against divisional rivals and on the road. They’ll take on the Florida Panthers on April 6, the Lightning on April 8, and the Ottawa Senators on April 10.Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.