Montreal Canadiens Fans Brace for Afternoon Games This Season

The Montreal Canadiens’ schedule for the upcoming season reveals a surprising twist for fans: two games will take place on Monday afternoons. The first matchup is set for January 18 against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center, followed by another on February 22 against the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Adding to this unusual scheduling, the Canadiens will also face the Tampa Bay Lightning on New Year’s Eve at 2:00 PM. While the game against the Sabres coincides with Martin Luther King Day—a bank holiday in the U.S.—the other two games do not align with any holidays in North America.

So, what prompted the NHL to schedule these afternoon games? NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly shed light on this decision during a recent episode of The Eye Test Podcast hosted by Pierre McGuire and Jimmy Murphy. The league aims to create a package of weekday games that can air during prime time in Europe, strategically avoiding competition from European football, especially on Monday nights.

For fans who are not thrilled about potentially missing these afternoon games, it might be wise to adjust plans. Daly indicated that the NHL is exploring the possibility of expanding to Europe, which would likely lead to an increase in weekday games for all teams. While he acknowledged that challenges remain in implementing this change within the framework of an 84-game season, the league’s interest in this direction is evident.

Should the NHL move forward with European expansion, it would necessitate travel for all teams to Europe during the season. This raises questions about logistics, as it would be impractical for teams to make such journeys for just one game. A more feasible approach might involve establishing a couple of teams overseas, though this presents its own challenges, including long road trips that could keep players away from their families for extended periods. Given the existing concerns about attracting players to cities like Montreal due to language barriers, weather, and taxes, the prospect of prolonged road trips may not be appealing.

The potential impact of European expansion could also be profound. If the NHL were to create an entire division in Europe, the quality of play could be at risk. The recent experience of the PWHL, which is undergoing a four-team expansion this season, serves as a cautionary tale for the NHL as it contemplates similar moves.

For now, Canadiens fans should closely examine their team’s schedule and consider taking some time off to catch all the action. Upcoming games featuring afternoon starts include the Sabres and Florida Panthers on October 12 at 1:00 PM, the Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken on November 12 at 12:00 PM, and several others throughout December. As the season progresses, it’s essential for fans to plan ahead to ensure they don’t miss any of their team’s exciting matchups.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.