The latest NHL News and NHL Scores for September 20, 2026 are finally giving hockey fans something they have been waiting months to see: actual games.
Saturday’s opening night of the shortened NHL preseason featured seven games, 39 combined goals, two overtime finishes and a pair of Montreal Canadiens victories over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Gavin McKenna made his highly anticipated preseason debut for Toronto, Sergei Bobrovsky played his first game in a Maple Leafs uniform, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl immediately clicked together in Edmonton, and several young players made strong first impressions.
But the biggest NHL News isn’t limited to the scoreboard.
Connor Hellebuyck remains suspended by the Winnipeg Jets after failing to report to training camp following his offseason trade request. Meanwhile, fresh NHL trade rumors have surfaced around Habs goalie Samuel Montembeault, and questions continue to follow Seattle Kraken centre Shane Wright.
Here is everything hockey fans need to know from Saturday night and heading into Sunday’s NHL action.
NHL Scores From Last Night: Every September 19 Preseason Result
Saturday produced seven NHL preseason games and 39 total goals, an average of roughly 5.6 goals per game. Two games required overtime, while Montreal was the only organization to record two victories thanks to its split-squad games against Toronto.
NHL Scores — September 19, 2026
Final scores and key notes from every game on the opening night of the 2026-27 NHL preseason.
Canadiens Sweep Leafs as Gavin McKenna Makes His Debut
The biggest headline from Saturday’s NHL Scores was Montreal taking both ends of its split-squad matchup against Toronto.
At Bell Centre, Cole Caufield finished a 2-on-0 with Lane Hutson with just 38 seconds remaining in overtime to give Montreal a 4-3 win. Hutson was already looking dangerous, producing a goal and two assists.
In Toronto, Phillip Danault scored twice in Montreal’s 4-1 victory.
But much of the attention was understandably on Gavin McKenna.
The first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft played 23:39, registered three shots and blocked one shot while skating with John Tavares and William Nylander. Toronto also gave McKenna offensive opportunities late in the game.
My observation: the zero beside McKenna’s point total is probably the least important number from his debut. Playing nearly 24 minutes tells us Toronto wants to learn quickly how much responsibility the 18-year-old can handle.
Sergei Bobrovsky also made his Maple Leafs debut, stopping 10 shots before Anthony Stolarz took over midway through the game.
McDavid and Draisaitl Waste No Time in Edmonton
Mike Babcock’s decision to begin camp with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together immediately produced results.
Both superstars recorded a goal and an assist in Edmonton’s 5-2 win over Winnipeg, while Evan Bouchard piled up four assists. New Oilers defenceman Ryan Shea added a goal and two assists in his first preseason game with Edmonton.
The result itself means little in September.
The deployment means considerably more.
If Edmonton continues running McDavid and Draisaitl together, one of the biggest fantasy hockey and lineup questions entering the season will have an early answer.
NHL Trade Rumors: Hellebuyck Situation Still Hanging Over Winnipeg
Winnipeg’s 5-2 preseason loss came while its biggest storyline remains unresolved.
Connor Hellebuyck has been suspended by the Jets after failing to report to training camp. Hellebuyck publicly confirmed in August that he had asked Winnipeg for a trade earlier in the offseason.
There is an interesting salary-cap component.
Hellebuyck normally carries an $8.5 million cap hit, but Sportsnet reported that he does not receive salary or count against Winnipeg’s cap while suspended.
That creates an $8.5 million difference in Winnipeg’s cap charge while the suspension remains in effect.
NHLTradeRumor.com analysis: that takes away some of the immediate cap pressure on general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. Winnipeg still has an enormous hockey problem to solve, but it does not have to accept an underwhelming trade simply to clear Hellebuyck’s cap hit.
Saturday’s game also reinforced why the situation will continue dominating NHL trade rumors. Winnipeg can move forward temporarily, but replacing an elite starting goalie is an entirely different challenge.
Samuel Montembeault Trade Rumors Get More Interesting
One of Sunday’s more intriguing NHL rumors involves Montreal goaltender Samuel Montembeault.
Frank Seravalli said this week that he believes Montembeault could be the first player traded this season, according to a roundup of his comments. Montreal currently has a crowded goalie picture involving Montembeault, Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler.
Then Montembeault went out Saturday and stopped all 13 Toronto shots he faced.
That doesn’t prove a trade is coming. If anything, Montreal could simply start with Montembeault and Dobes while allowing waiver-exempt Fowler to play regularly in Laval.
But Saturday provided exactly the kind of performance Montreal would want if the organization eventually decides to explore Montembeault’s value.
My observation: this is a rumor worth tracking rather than forcing. Goalie markets can change quickly when injuries occur, and an affordable veteran playing well becomes more attractive once another club suddenly needs help.
Shane Wright’s Future in Seattle Still Bears Watching
Seattle opened its preseason with a 4-2 victory over Vancouver behind Jake O’Brien’s goal and assist.
Away from the game, another Kraken storyline remains unresolved.
The Seattle Times recently revisited Shane Wright’s future after his agent pushed for a trade during the offseason, according to Sunday’s rumor roundup. Kraken general manager Jason Botterill has kept his conversations with Wright private and has publicly focused on helping the centre become a better NHL player.
Wright dropped from 44 points in 2024-25 to 27 points in 74 games last season.
That makes this season significant.
If Wright earns a larger role and produces, Seattle could have a valuable young centre to build around. If his usage remains limited, the trade discussion probably won’t disappear.
Other NHL News From Today
The Anaheim Ducks signed forward Tim Washe to a four-year extension. NHL.com initially reported that financial terms were undisclosed, while subsequent reporting put the average annual value at $2.25 million. Washe recorded five points in 39 games last season.
The New York Rangers are also getting their first extended look at Pavel Dorofeyev following his offseason trade from Vegas. Dorofeyev has been working in Connecticut for several summers and is beginning his Rangers career after signing a seven-year, $77 million contract.
Sunday’s preseason schedule features seven more games, including Carolina visiting Florida, Washington playing Boston, Utah facing Colorado and Seattle visiting Calgary.
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The post NHL News and NHL Scores Today: McKenna Debuts, Canadiens Sweep Leafs as Hellebuyck Drama Continues appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
