Split-Squad Hockey Night: Toronto and Ottawa Face Off Twice

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators are set for an unusual preseason night on Wednesday, September 23, with two games starting at 7 p.m. ET in two different cities. One matchup will be in Toronto, while the other takes place in Ottawa.

This is a split-squad setup, which means each team divides its camp roster between the two venues. For fans, that creates two separate versions of the same Ontario rivalry. For anyone looking at the betting board, it also means the strength of each side can only be judged after the lineups are released for each specific game.

Why this preseason setup stands out

Both cities get a home-game feel on the same night, and both coaching staffs get a wider look at their roster options before the regular season begins on September 29. Ottawa hosts one Maple Leafs group at Canadian Tire Centre, while another Senators group travels to Toronto.

The format gives each staff more ice time to evaluate players, especially those fighting for lineup spots. It also makes the night more interesting for fans, since the two games can unfold very differently depending on which players are assigned to each building.

Game	Location	Start Time	What to Watch
Ottawa at Toronto	Toronto	7 p.m. ET	Lineup quality, goaltending, and NHL regulars
Toronto at Ottawa	Ottawa	7 p.m. ET	Split-squad balance and roster depth

Roster choices will shape the matchup

Ottawa enters this preseason stretch with major changes, including its first season after trading former captain Brady Tkachuk. New forward William Eklund is one of the names worth tracking as the Senators test different combinations in their reshaped attack.

Toronto’s preseason is also short and concentrated. The Maple Leafs have only four exhibition games, with Montreal and Ottawa making up the full schedule, so Wednesday’s split-squad night is one of the most important chances for players to leave an impression.

How to approach betting on the two games

The safest strategy is to wait until both rosters are confirmed. A Maple Leafs moneyline bet in Toronto is not the same wager as a Maple Leafs moneyline bet in Ottawa, because the player groups are different. The same logic applies to the Senators.

Starting goaltenders should be the first thing checked. If a proven NHL netminder is facing a thinner lineup, that can shift the value of a side or total. It also helps to compare how many established forwards and defensemen each team sends to each rink.

The game total becomes more useful once the lineups are known, especially if one side leans on inexperienced defensive pairs or a less proven goalie. Even then, preseason scoring can be hard to forecast because coaches spread minutes around and rarely treat the result as the top priority.

What kind of prediction makes sense

There is no trustworthy single pick before the split squads and starting goalies are announced. The stronger lineup in Toronto may not match the stronger lineup in Ottawa, so each game needs to be evaluated on its own.

The most practical read is to compare the rosters, then see whether the odds reflect the difference in experience and netminding. If the number already accounts for those details, the better move may be to skip the wager and simply enjoy a rare double-header rivalry night.