The Montreal Canadiens are gearing up to hit the ice again this week, and they've got a couple of Olympians back in the fold. Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky have returned from their Olympic adventures, bringing some international flair back to the lineup.
Slafkovsky, fresh off a stint with Slovakia, made it all the way to the bronze medal game, though they ultimately fell to Finland. He was a standout, netting four goals throughout the Olympics, showcasing his knack for finding the back of the net on the big stage.
Meanwhile, Suzuki played a pivotal role for Team Canada, helping them reach the gold medal game against the United States. His crucial goal tied the Olympic semifinal, setting the stage for Canada’s dramatic overtime victory.
Both players have logged some serious air miles, flying back from Milan, Italy, to rejoin their Canadiens teammates in Montreal. Given the travel, they took a breather and sat out Tuesday's practice.
But here's the silver lining, as reported by TSN’s Eric Engels: Suzuki and Slafkovsky are back and healthy, just taking a well-deserved rest day.
The Canadiens have caught a couple of breaks with the schedule. They don’t hit the ice until Thursday, which gives them an extra day compared to some teams that are back in action on Wednesday. Plus, they’re staying put in Montreal, hosting the Islanders, which means no immediate travel headaches.
Suzuki and Slafkovsky are expected to lace up for practice on Wednesday. If all goes well, they’ll be ready to join their teammates for Thursday’s game, bringing their Olympic experience back to the NHL stage.