SHOP: Canadiens T-Shirt benefiting Ukraine 🇺🇦
Here's a list of players who skated:
The wait is finally over
During the pregame media availability, the Canadiens confirmed that Joel Edmundson will make his season debut tonight after recovering from a lower-back injury.
Edmundson hasn't played since last July when the Stanley Cup Final wrapped up in Tampa.
"He's a solid, tough-to-play-against defenseman," said interim head coach Martin St-Louis. "I'm looking forward to getting him back into some action."
Video: Martin St-Louis' pregame press conference
St-Louis says the veteran blueliner will have some input on his ice time, but he insists that Edmundson is also in good hands with assistant coach Luke Richardson.
"Eddy will talk to us during the game. I don't think he's coming into this thinking he's going to play 20 or 22 minutes. You need to be careful with guys in this situation. You don't want to overwhelm them," noted St-Louis. "I really trust Luke back there in making those decisions. He's been here with Joel, seen Joel work in the trenches, and been on the bench with him. I haven't. I'm fully going to trust what Luke is going to do out there with our defensemen."
St-Louis also confirmed that Laurent Dauphin will be a healthy scratch.
Solidarity, support for Ukraine
Deeply touched by the tragic situation unfolding in Ukraine, the Canadiens have pledged to support UNICEF in providing urgent humanitarian aid to victims of the armed conflict.
Prior to their game, the team will honor all those affected by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Click here to learn more about the various fundraising initiatives at the Bell Centre tonight.
Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: The Canadiens have joined with @UNICEFCanada to support the victims of the conflict in Ukraine.Here's how you can help 👇https://t.co/7yfxjzISq6
Fans at home can also contribute by donating online at unicef.ca/canadiensmtlEN.
Those wishing to show their support can purchase limited edition Canadiens and Laval Rocket T-shirts bearing the Ukrainian flag. All profits from the sale of this special collection will also go to UNICEF.
