In Brossard, the Montreal Canadiens hit the ice for their second practice since the Olympic break kicked off. With three teammates battling it out in the Olympic quarterfinals, the rest of the squad was present and accounted for. Patrik Laine, who had been sidelined with a lower-body injury, made his return in a regular jersey, signaling he's ready to get back in action.
Defenseman Kaiden Guhle shared his thoughts post-practice, expressing a desire to reset and focus on the future rather than dwelling on past performances. He’s eager to build on his last outing against the Winnipeg Jets and return to his signature style of play. Guhle took advantage of the break to recharge, spending time in Cancun and Nashville with friends, including Jayden Struble.
Asked about his Olympic-watching habits, Guhle admitted he hadn’t caught all of Juraj Slafkovsky’s games but managed to see the first one and part of the second. He noted that donning a national team jersey often brings out the best in players.
Alexandre Carrier highlighted a shift in how teams approach the Canadiens. With the Habs climbing the standings, opponents are no longer caught off guard and come prepared for a tough matchup.
The Canadiens will take a breather tomorrow before resuming practice in Brossard on Friday. Meanwhile, in Italy, Nick Suzuki, Slafkovsky, and Oliver Kapanen are still in the hunt for Olympic medals, enjoying a day off before their semifinal clashes.
As the Canadiens continue their journey, fans are eagerly watching to see how this refreshed squad performs in the coming games.