After spending a much deserved three days celebrating Christmas with family and friends, the Montreal Canadiens will get back to work tomorrow. If they enjoyed a long homestand in the early part of December, they’re about to embark in a tricky round trip.
At 9:00 AM tomorrow morning, the Habs will be heading to Fort Lauderdale, on a first leg of a trip that will see them play in five games. They’ll be taking on the Stanley Cup Champions Florida Panthers, the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Vegas Golden Knights, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Colorado Avalanche.
After reaching destination tomorrow, they’ll have their first team practice since dropping a 5-4 decision to the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 23. Then, on the 28th, they’ll hit the ice to take on the Panthers at 1:00 PM ET. In the evening, they’ll be flying to Tampa Bay where they’re set to take on the Lightning at 5:00 PM on the 29th. That evening, they’ll travel to Las Vegas.
The Canadiens will then enjoy a day off in Vegas on the 30th, before holding a pre-game morning skate on new year’s eve and taking on the Golden Knights at 3:00 PM. They’ll be headed to Chicago on New Year’s day and take on the Hawks on Jan. 3. Finally, on Saturday the 4th, they’ll battle the Avalanche before flying back home.
As the Canadiens get back in the swing a things, there will be a few questions on every Habs fan this holiday season. How will Montreal sort out its goaltending? Is Patrik Laine ready to go or was the injury suffered in Columbus serious enough to make him miss some time? Will the Canadiens decide to sign Jake Evans to a contract extension? How much longer can Martin St-Louis cover for Kirby Dach? Never a dull moment in Habs land, welcome back from the break everyone!
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