After a compressed yet tumultuous off-season, NHL hockey is back for what will hopefully be its first 82-game season since 2018-19. As tradition would have it, the Montreal Canadiens kicked off their season against their former North Division rivals from Toronto on Wednesday night.
The reigning Western Conference champions came into this contest without several of the key pieces that helped carry the team all the way to the Stanley Cup Final a few months ago. Shea Weber is injured and out indefinitely. The same goes for Carey Price, but due to personal reasons.