The Montreal Canadiens will return from the holiday break down some key players. Carey Price, Brendan Gallagher and Tom Gilbert will all be staying home as the Habs start a five-game road trip on Saturday against the Washington Capitals, according to Renaud Lavoie.
The road trip will include the 2016 Winter Classic, being played at Gillette Stadium on January 1 against the Boston Bruins.
Gilbert has been ruled out for the next five games, according to Arpon Basu. That’s the entire road trip. He was injured on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild, leaving the game early in the first period.
Gallagher was practicing with the team, but won’t travel. Price is in the same boat. They haven’t been ruled out of the entire road trip, but they won’t start the trip with the Habs.
Price and Gallagher would appear to be questionable at best for the Winter Classic. Price’s initial timeline made it look like he’s almost a guarantee to miss the Classic, but he hasn’t officially been ruled out.
The team needs all three fully healthy, especially with Price going out of the lineup again after returning last time. But they need them all back soon. The Canadiens have lost their last five straight games and are 1-9-0 in their last 10 games.
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