Montreal Canadiens: Habs are Officially Out of Covid Protocol

Montreal Canadiens games, practices and all team activities have been on hold since the team had two players added to the NHL’s Covid Protocol list on Monday, March 22.

That say saw Joel Armia and then Jesperi Kotkaniemi put on the league’s lockdown list and everything was shut down immediately. The Habs were supposed to have played four games since then, but all of them were cancelled and then rescheduled.

Today, the team finally got news that they are out of Covid jail and can return to regular activities.

The work became official when the NHL announced its list of players currently on Covid protocol. Kotkaniemi was on the list, and Eric Staal joined him but only because he needs to serve his mandatory seven day quarantine before he can join the team. Armia remains on the list, but since the Canadiens have had no additional positive tests in the past seven days, they are free to return to the Bell Centre.

Word is they will return to the Bell Centre tonight for a practice at 6:45 PM. This will be the first time they are on the ice together in just over a week. They will need to shake the rust off quickly as they face the Edmonton Oilers tomorrow night at the Bell Centre.

The Canadiens will be busy for the rest of the season as they play their final 25 games in just 43 days. Their depth will be tested as they will hardly have time to practice and will need to utilize as many capable NHL bodies as they can to get through one of the most rigorous stretches of schedule in NHL history.

Thankfully, the team only had one positive test and is going to be able to get back on the ice tonight. Finally, we get to see the Canadiens taking part in regular activities once again.