Fans of the Montreal Canadiens will be hoping for a happy new year. Considering the form of the team they support, that may well take a little while to materialize.
Last season saw the Canadiens finish bottom of the Atlantic Division. Only the Columbus Blue Jackets finished below them in the Eastern Conference. This new season has been another struggle and making the play-offs isn’t looking likely at all.
The opening months of 2024 have to see a reversal in fortune for them. If that isn’t the case then it’s going to be another season without the play-offs being reached.
Placing wagers on ice hockey can bring almost as much excitement as watching the game. If you do want to do that, it’s best to find out more on the portal https://twin.com/en-ca/bets/hockey about NHL betting in Canada before beginning to do so.
The January 2024 fixture list does give them the chance to start the year well. Five of their first seven NHL games of the new year are played at home and the second week of the year sees three consecutive home fixtures.
2024 begins with a trip to Dallas. Last season saw the Canadiens lose both of their matches against the Stars, the second being played just two days before Christmas Day. With Dallas enjoying a good season, it might not be the best start for the new year.
The first win of 2024 may well come two days later when they host Buffalo who they beat in both March and October of 2023. Best not to mention the 7-2 home loss to them in November 2022.
Getting some momentum in the early days of 2024 might not be an easy task. New York Rangers are up next at home and the New Yorkers have shown some impressive form on the road this season.
A trip to the inconsistent Philadelphia Flyers follows on January 10 but then there are three consecutive home games for the Canadiens. When that comes up, it’s such an important time for any team regardless of where they are in the table. Three good results can do so much for the confidence of a team. Some disappointing results can of course do the exact opposite.
October 2023 saw a run of three home games on a trot produce a couple of wins and a defeat. The following month though the Canadiens had four home fixtures on the bounce and after beating Boston, lost the next three.
Those three consecutive home games in January are against San Jose, Edmonton and Calgary. The first two of those matches look winnable, for the Canadiens they will be targeting good performances to build some momentum even if it doesn’t eventually see them in play-off contention, especially as their next three fixtures are on the road.