Morning practice: all signs point to Kaiden Guhle’s return to action this evening

The Montreal Canadiens play their third straight home game this week tonight, while the Washington Capitals are in town.

Ovi’s team, WITHOUT Ovi, will be looking for their ninth straight win away from home tonight, after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs last night.

As for the Habs, they’ll be going for their third win in a row for the first time this season, and especially for the first time since March.

In preparation for this game, the Habs practiced this morning at the Bell Centre, and quickly got some good news.

Kaiden Guhle was on the ice, and everything points to him playing tonight against the Capitals.

All signs point to Kaiden Guhle returning to action tonight @CanadiensMTL @TVASports

– Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) December 7, 2024

Guhle missed the last game at the last minute due to illness.

Justin Barron took his place just before warm-up.

And if logic is anything to go by, it’s Barron who should bail out tonight, leaving his place to allow Guhle to re-enter the line-up.

So it wasn’t too serious for Guhle, who missed just one game.

In net, unsurprisingly, it’s Samuel Montembeault who will be the starter for a third straight game this week.

He’s been excellent in his last two games, and will need to be again tonight against the mighty Capitals.

What’s more, he’ll be up against Logan Thompson, one of the goaltenders with whom he competed in the four-mation tournament with Team Canada.

So, it’s going to be a big goaltending duel, with Thompson clearly out to prove that he would have earned his place ahead of Montembeault.

So, it will be Sam Montembeault, who was selected to Team Canada for 4 Nations Face-off ahead of Logan Thompson. vs. Logan Thompson (who I’m guessing is very aware of that) for the Capitals. https://t.co/VkjdTF7Jyy

– Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) December 7, 2024

Overtime

– Happy Birthday Georges Laraque!

Today is the birthday of my good friend @GeorgesLaraque.

Happy birthday Georges! I’ll always be grateful for the crazy year you’ve given me.

Have fun today brother!

– Maxime Truman (@MaximeTruman) December 7, 2024

– Read more.

No rules were broken by the Rangers here. But after Barclay Goodrow and Trouba were dispatched, new marquee signees should realize that a partial no-trade clause is essentially worthless in the Big Apple.@lukefoxjukebox on this and 11 other thoughts. https://t.co/y086siu1II

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 7, 2024

– Here’s the starting grid for the final grand prix of the season.

The final starting grid of the 2024 season #F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/6BeiwMUNaq

– Formula 1 (@F1) December 7, 2024