Time for the real season

BROSSARD - Canadiens players and coaches spent almost an hour on the ice making some final adjustments to their system before heading off to Toronto, where they'll begin their regular season with a showdown against the archrival Maple Leafs on Wednesday night.

After that, the Habs will be in Pittsburgh to face the Penguins on Saturday, and new captain Shea Weber will be joining for the entire trip despite still being on the shelf. According to head coach Claude Julien, the voyage will be a great opportunity for his group to gel.
"We want to give the players the chance to spend some time together on the road," he remarked. "It's important for everyone to be together for the start of the season."
The first stop in Hogtown will give the Habs bench boss the chance to evaluate his players against a team many experts are picking to win it all this season.
"It's a process, and we're playing against a team that's gunning for the Stanley Cup. It's a good challenge for us," affirmed Julien. "We won't want to look too far ahead. Our focus is on Toronto."

The trip will also be a chance for the Canadiens' first-round pick in 2018 to make his NHL debut. When he met the media on Tuesday morning, Jesperi Kotkaniemi pointed out that he's feeling pretty serene about the whole thing.
"For me, it's a game like any other. For sure, it'll be special to play my first game in the NHL, but it's still just hockey," outlined the 18-year-old. "I always have fun when I'm on the ice, and that's what I hope to do on Wednesday in Toronto."
When asked about Kotkaniemi's calm demeanor on the eve of his first NHL game, teammate Phillip Danault took the opportunity to give the youngster a light ribbing.
"I don't really know if he knows what's going on, but maybe it's better that way," he cracked.
The veteran - who is set to begin his fourth campaign in Montreal - also spoke of how the start of the season would be a test for himself and his teammates."
"It's about time it starts. These are two big games to start off. It's good to play Toronto and Pittsburgh to start the season," he declared. "It's a trip where we can gain a lot of confidence right from the get-go. We're going to go one step at a time, one period at a time and we're going to work for 60 minutes. That's what it'll take for us to be successful."

For Danault, the team needs to build on their recently completed training camp and continue what they've started.
"We can't change our system or our mindset," he outlined. "We played well against Toronto in the preseason. We have to stay calm, like Kotkaniemi, and it'll go well."
Max Domi returns
The start of the regular season also marks Max Domi's return to the lineup. Acquired from the Arizona Coyotes this summer in return for Alex Galchenyuk, Domi will be making his Habs debut against his hometown team with his dad, former NHL enforcer Tie Domi, in the stands.
"We're all really excited for it to start. We're ready. I think the game will be special for everyone," he concluded. "They're a good hockey team and it's a good rivalry."

The Canadiens' 2018-19 regular season begins on Wednesday, October 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.