After a good series just before the Christmas break, the Canadiens are back in action tomorrow and are looking forward to starting this new part of the season in the playoffs.

Of course we would need to get a few more wins to get closer to the Holy Grail, but after two seasons in which the club already had little hope at this point of the year, the team's current situation is very popular with players.

“It depends on what you want: to progress and play hockey,” veteran Brendan Gallagher admitted in his comments reported on the CH accounttoday on the sidelines of the team's training in Raleigh, where they will face the Hurricanes tomorrow.

“There are still a lot of games to play, it's not the time to pat ourselves on the back, but we're in a position where if we keep doing what we've been doing, we'll continue to develop our game, ourselves “Play games that count at the end of the season,” added the man who scored five goals and seven assists this season.

In another corner of the locker room, team captain Nick Suzuki agreed.

“It's a lot better, the games are more fun and we come back after Christmas with a lot more energy,” he said. We will play against very good teams on this trip abroad and we have to do our best to beat them.

In fact: After the game against the Hurricanes, the Habs face the Panthers and the Lightning in Florida, then the Stars in Dallas. This will not be an easy task.

“These four teams are at the top of the league and there’s a reason for that,” noted Quebec defenseman Mike Matheson. They are playing solid hockey and it will be a good challenge to start the second half of the season.”

Nevertheless, CH was in good form with three wins in four games before the Christmas break.

“If we can win this game against the teams we face in the coming days, I think our chances are good,” Matheson said. These four teams are very strong, but we will be ready.”

Primeau in front of the net

Goaltender Cayden Primeau, who had a respectable performance against the Blackhawks just before halftime, will start tomorrow for the second straight game, Canadiens coach Martin St-Louis confirmed.

The CH driver also used his press conference to throw flowers to his first pair of defenders, consisting of veterans Matheson and David Savard.

“Matheson can cover a lot of ice with his skate (…) and 'Savy' is able to put the puck in the right place,” he explained. When Matheson is open, in the right spot, with some speed, it's rare that he doesn't touch him.

In his opinion, Savard is a stabilizing element in the rearguard and the team has performed significantly better since his return to play on December 10th.

“Historically we see him as a defensive defender who blocks shots, but he is a guy who is able to start and support the attack and he has a great presence, a leadership role in the team,” emphasized the coach.

“That’s what “Savy” brings, consistency, with his discipline on the ice, his way of managing his game, managing the game in front of him, he also mentioned. When you have a guy like that (…), it brings calm to a team.”