LAK@MTL: What an evening it will be

BROSSARD - The Canadiens didn't hold a formal skate on Thursday morning, electing instead to conserve their energy for the tilt against the Los Angeles Kings.

It's safe to say that none of the players in uniform will be short on energy, though, given the nature of the occasion.
After all, there really isn't anything quite like a home opener at the Bell Centre.
"It's exciting. It's a really cool atmosphere to be a part of. It's pretty special to be able to put on that sweater every game," said assistant captain Brendan Gallagher. "The way they do the ceremony here, it's an emotional game. There's a lot of energy in the building."

It will be particularly emotional this time around as the ceremony will include - in addition to the player introductions - a tribute to the 1993 Habs squad that hoisted the Stanley Cup just over 25 years ago.
"I remember as a kid, I was four years old when they won the Cup. It was the last time a team won a championship here. It was a pretty special time," recalled assistant captain Paul Byron. "To commemorate the efforts they put forth that year is pretty special for this organization. We'll be watching."
While Byron was still very young when the Canadiens ousted the Kings in five games to claim their 24th Stanley Cup title in franchise history, he still has a few key memories of the magical run.
"I think the thing I remember most is the fact that they won 10 games in overtime. To win 10 games like that is special," mentioned Byron, on the remarkable feat. "I also remember Patrick Roy. He's the best goalie in NHL history."
After the pre-game festivities are over, it will be up to Julien's troops to get down to business, of course, and pick up right where they left off with strong performances against both Toronto and Pittsburgh to open the 2018-19 campaign on the road.
"They've got a good hockey team over there. They're big. They're strong. We want to make sure we get our legs going, and use our speed and play the way we've been playing," explained Byron, referencing a tough Kings team boasting the likes of Anze Kopitar and Ilya Kovalchuk up front, and Drew Doughty and Dion Phaneuf on the back end. "We've got to play with pace, play with energy and bring it tonight."

Weber is back on skates
Captain Shea Weber hit the ice on the South Shore for a brief skate on Thursday morning.
It marked the first time that the veteran rearguard had skated since undergoing right knee surgery over the summer.

According to Julien, Weber's on-ice workout was pre-planned in conjunction with his ongoing rehab program and his timeline to return to the Canadiens' lineup in December, perhaps, remains unchanged.
Weber's teammates were pleased to see him taking another positive step in his recovery.
"He's getting closer, which is exciting for our group and exciting for him. He's a huge part of our team. Top defenseman in the League, always has been," mentioned Gallagher. "It's exciting for our team because we know we're going to add a player who can pretty much do it all. He's the captain of our team for a reason. I think we're all looking forward to it."