Practice: Kaiden Guhle wore a regular jersey this morning in Brossard

Maxime Truman
Practice: Kaiden Guhle wore a regular jersey this morning in Brossard
Credit: Marc-Olivier Cook

The Canadiens are back in Montreal after playing seven games on the road. The last game at the Bell Centre was on December 20.

The CH was splendid during its holiday trip, completing it with a 4-1-2 record. In short, the Montreal club lost just one of their seven regular-time games on their long trip.

The problem could come this week. The Tricolore are one of the best teams in the entire Bettman circuit on the road this season (13-4-5), but they're barely playing for .500 in front of their fans (10-9-1). The four games in six days at the Bell Centre will be a challenge for the Montrealers.

Especially tomorrow night's: teams tend to come out flat after a long road trip.

Kaiden Guhle with the regulars
Martin St-Louis conducted his first training session in weeks in Brossard this morning, and a few of the players were worth noting.

1. Kaiden Guhle trained with his teammates for the first time since mid-October, wearing a regular jersey. Reminder: he should be back in action this week.

However, since the Habs will play two games in two nights on Wednesday and Thursday, Montreal management may decide to wait until Thursday, and not dress Guhle tomorrow against the Flames . We'll see.

Will Alexandre Carrier and Adam Engstrom be the two defensemen left out on Wednesday? Or will they form the third pair, sending Struble and Xhekaj to the stands? Stay tuned.

Guhle, who has only played five games this season, will certainly help the Habs when he returns, but he also risks moving Lane Hutson to the right, where the small American defender is less productive.

But let's conclude this segment on Guhle with these wise words: let's hope he stays healthy.

2. Jacob Fowler, Samuel Montembeault, and Jakub Dobes all took part in training. Fowler spent time with Éric Raymond at the start of the session. What does this mean?

How much longer will the ménage à trois last? Who will be sent into the fray tomorrow against the Flames? And Thursday against the Panthers?

3. Remember that Patrik Laine skated (briskly) before practice. He was accompanied by Adam Nicholas, which suggests that he has made progress in his rehab.

He took a few shots, confirming to everyone that his one-timer was still top-notch.

The absentees
Many are wondering where Patrik Laine will fit in when he's fit to return to action.

First trio with Caufield and Suzuki? Fourth trio? Grandstands? First power play?

But in addition to Laine and Guhle, other injured players are still absent: Jake Evans, Josh Anderson, Kirby Dach, and Alex Newhook. Radio silence this morning in Brossard concerning these three.

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