Sportsnet released the full national and regional broadcast schedule for the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, which includes all 82 regular season games. (Read the schedule in its entirety here.)
As we look ahead to October, we thought it would be fun to highlight a few of the Habs’ can’t-miss match-ups that we’re especially excited about.
Here are five of the Canadiens’ must-watch games:
Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, Wednesday, Oct. 7 (National – Sportsnet)
Sure, the rivalry may not be what it once was, but when you kick off your hockey season with this historic all-CanadienCanadian game in Toronto, great things are bound to happen.
Canadiens vs. Ottawa Senators, Sunday, Oct. 11 (National – Sportsnet)
Remember how great that first-round playoff matchup between these two teams was? Let’s see if they can pick up where they left off when the Canadiens head to Ottawa for the first time.
Canadiens vs. Vancouver Canucks, Tuesday, Oct. 27 (Regional – City Montreal)
Another October game? We can’t help it — the Canadiens’ opening month looks like a great one, and their trip to Vancouver at the end of the month is no exception.
For Habs goalie and B.C. native Carey Price, it’ll be a homecoming as he returns to the west coast.
The Canadiens haven’t made many changes to their roster this off-season, so the Prust-for-Kassian deal stands out in relation. Zack Kassian will have had almost a full month to gel with his teammates in Montreal by then, so it will be an interesting opportunity to see how he does against his old squad. Same goes for Prust — although his real test will come on Nov. 16 when his Canucks visit the Bell Centre.
Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, Monday, Dec. 28 (Regional – Sportsnet East)
Habs fans are going to have to wait until the holidays to see this heated rivalry ignited again when the Habs head to Florida. The last time they met, the Lightning earned a decisive Game 6 win to eliminate the Canadiens on their way to the Stanley Cup Final.
Momentum was on the side of the Lightning last year, going undefeated against their Atlantic division rival during the regular season. Which way will it swing this season?
Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins, 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, Jan. 1 (National – Sportsnet)
Any time these Original-Six rivals face off is a good time — ahem, Oct. 10, Nov. 7, Dec. 9, to name a few — but add in the elements at the home of the New England Patriots, and you’ve got yourself a can’t-miss game.
Here are a few highlights from last time the Canadiens laced up their skates for an outdoor game:
