What Happened
While Nick Suzuki competed in the gold medal game with Team Canada, his teammates from the Montreal Canadiens participated in the team’s annual skills competition. This year, the event included players from the Montreal Victoire, showcasing new talents such as Maureen Murphy, Alexandra Labelle, Nicole Gosling, and Jade Downie-Landry. The competition featured various events, including the fastest skater contest, won by Lane Hutson with a time of 13.624 seconds.
Why It Matters
The skills competition serves as a morale booster for the Canadiens, especially as they prepare for a challenging schedule ahead. With the NHL regular season resuming after the Olympic break, the team is currently positioned second in the Atlantic Division, but faces a demanding stretch of 25 games in 47 days. This includes multiple back-to-back matchups, which could significantly impact their playoff aspirations.
What’s Next
The Canadiens will return to action on Thursday against the New York Islanders. The outcome of this game, along with the subsequent matches, will be crucial as they aim to solidify their playoff position. The return of Suzuki, now with an Olympic silver medal, could provide a much-needed boost to the team’s performance as they navigate this intense schedule.
