Excerpt from the Sportsnet.ca article:
It is a season of big expectations for the Canadiens, who would love to pick up a 25th Stanley Cup in their 100th anniversary season.
“We’re in a great position, it’s a great opportunity, but despite the expectations, it’s something we have to take in stride,” said defenceman Mike Komisarek. “No one is sitting on those expectations.
“We realize what we’re capable of but we know it’s not going to be easy. Guys are ready to pay the price.”
The Canadiens boosted their chances by picking up veteran forwards Alex Tanguay, Robert Lang and Georges Laraque in the off-season, but go into the opener missing three players to minor injuries.
Laraque and winger Christopher Higgins have groin injuries, while defenceman Francis Bouillon has an unspecified problem with a leg.
Coach Guy Carbonneau said all three won’t play in Buffalo and “probably” won’t play Saturday night in Toronto or Monday night in Philadelphia. But all three should be back for Montreal’s home opener Oct. 15 against Boston.
“It’s a lot easier knowing they won’t be out for months, just days,” said Carbonneau.
It is a fourth season in a row that Montreal begins a season with three games on the road, but they have yet to lose in regulation time in any of those games; earning six, five and five points respectively from the three-game sets.