Canadiens Back in Action Against Lightning After Christmas Break
The Montreal Canadiens are back on the ice after a brief Christmas break, and the team has returned to Tampa to face the Lightning in a challenging matchup. This game marks the beginning of a tough five-game road trip for Montreal, which will take them through Florida, North Carolina, Missouri, and Texas.
The Canadiens, currently sitting in the middle of the pack in the standings, have shown resilience despite a series of injuries that have hit their roster. The latest blow comes with the news that forward Jake Evans will be sidelined for four to six weeks due to a lower-body injury sustained from a knee-on-knee collision. Evans' absence adds to the growing list of injured players, with several key forwards missing time. But there is a silver lining: Evans won't need surgery, though his recovery will still require careful monitoring, especially with knee injuries being tricky to manage.
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As the Canadiens returned to practice, some positive updates came through. Alexandre Texier, who was injured in the team’s last game against Boston, was seen practicing and wearing a regular jersey, which means he will likely be available for tonight’s game. In addition, Samuel Montembeault, who had been sent to the AHL for a conditioning stint, was recalled and will join the team in Tampa.
In net, Jacob Fowler will get the start for Montreal, marking his sixth game of the month. Fowler has been impressive, posting a 3-1-1 record with a .918 save percentage, and he’ll be looking to build on his strong performance. The Canadiens are hoping Fowler can continue his excellent form, especially after Montembeault rejoined the team, though he has not been slated to start tonight.
The Lightning, on the other hand, are coming off a hard-fought win against the Florida Panthers, a game that saw 136 penalty minutes handed out. Tampa Bay’s star players, like Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point, remain key threats for the Canadiens, and Montreal will need to be disciplined to avoid giving the Lightning too many opportunities.
Tampa Bay has had the upper hand in recent meetings, winning seven of the last ten matchups. However, Montreal did manage a 5-2 victory at Amalie Arena just a year ago, which will no doubt give them some confidence as they prepare for the challenge. With the Canadiens’ goal-scoring recently on the rise, there is hope that they can keep up with Tampa’s offensive firepower.
The game is set to begin at 5:00 PM EST, and fans can tune in via TSN2 or RDS for the broadcast. After this matchup, the Canadiens will head to Fort Lauderdale for their next game against the Panthers on December 30. It’s a crucial stretch for Montreal, and how they perform over these five games could play a significant role in shaping the remainder of their season.
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