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The Montreal Canadiens will start the 2024-25 season at dwelling on October 9 towards their Unique Six rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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After lacking out on the playoffs for the previous three seasons, there is a renewed sense of optimism surrounding this yr’s membership, particularly with the addition of former 40-goal scorer Patrik Laine.
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In October, the Canadiens will play 11 times, with eight video games on the Bell Centre and three on the highway. Listed here are three video games that followers ought to look ahead to within the season’s first 22 days.
3. October 22 vs. New York Rangers (Bell Centre)
Final season, the New York Rangers gained the Presidents’ Trophy because the NHL’s greatest workforce. But, each time the Blueshirts met the Canadiens, the video games have been entertaining, intense, and high-scoring, together with an exciting 4-3 Montreal shootout win on January 6.
Neither workforce underwent a drastic overhaul within the offseason, so anticipate the youngsters like Juraj Slafkovsky and Kaiden Guhle to be higher and current extra of a problem to a veteran workforce that got here inside just a few wins of reaching the Stanley Cup Closing.
Regardless of New York taking the season collection 2-0-1, Montreal saved tempo with their rivals, getting outscored by solely 5 targets, 15-10, in these contests.
2. October 14 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (Bell Centre)
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Anytime Sidney Crosby skates on the Bell Centre, it is one of many schedule’s highlights. The native of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, has deep ties with the group, as his dad Troy was a goalie drafted by the Canadiens in 1984.
In an alternate universe, Montreal followers would like to see Crosby skate of their iconic sweater, however for now, they have to proceed watching him dominate the workforce he grew up watching, with 64 factors in 49 video games.
In the course of the 2023-24 season, the Penguins and Canadiens missed the playoffs, although Pittsburgh swept the three conferences, together with a classic 12-round shootout win (4-3) on December 13. A month later, they snuck away with an extra time win (3-2) earlier than securing the one non-one-goal victory (4-1) of the yr in February.
1. October 9 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (Bell Centre)
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The Canadiens will start their season towards the Maple Leafs for the fifth consecutive yr.
Though these two long-time rivals have performed memorable video games over the previous century, not many have been as thrilling and heartbreaking because the 6-5 shootout loss to start the 2023-24 season.
Auston Matthew’s quest for 70 targets started that evening with a hat trick that rallied the Maple Leafs to pressure extra time, the place Mitch Marner finally scored the lone objective within the shootout for the win.
Related: Many Montreal Canadiens Attended the Gaudreau Brothers’ Funeral
Sadly, Montreal would drop the opposite contests towards Toronto, getting outscored 13-9 on the yr. Nevertheless it’s a brand new marketing campaign and a clear slate, that means the Canadiens have an opportunity to avenge some earlier losses.
The matchup hasn’t been shut because the final time these two groups met within the 2020-21 playoffs. The Maple Leafs maintain a snug 7-3-1 lead in common season meets, however the boxscores are nearer, 38-30, in favor of the Ontario workforce.
What different video games are you trying ahead to in October? Tell us within the feedback.
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