Canadiens: Bringing Some Joy

It was business at usual this morning in Brossard when the Montreal Canadiens hit the ice for practice, aside from two small details, there were two players missing. Patrik Laine and Mike Matheson weren't on the ice as they were beneficiating from treatments. As a result, Mike Pezzetta and Jayden Struble were taking reps in their usual spots, which seems to indicate the lineup won't change before tomorrow's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Even in net, Samuel Montembeault will get a fifth consecutive game.

As for Jake Evans, who looked in some discomfort at the end of the game against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night, he was in his spot, taking part in all the drills and not showing anything worrying. That's great news for the Canadiens as he has been one of their most consistent and efficient players this season.

Related: Canadiens: A Fair Comparable For Jake Evans?

This afternoon, the players will be focusing on something that's more important than hockey. As is the tradition since Jean Beliveau first instigated it, the Canadiens will be making their way to a few children's hospitals in town and try to give some joy to kids who haven't been as lucky as they have been in life. The Habs are not the only team to do this either, others are the league also take the time around Christmas.

Of course, the point of the exercise if to provide both the kids and their parents with some joy and help in that way, but as Martin St-Louis said it himself in his media availability, it helps the players as well.

Related: Canadiens: Roller Coaster Performance Leads To Desired Outcome

How? Well, what better way is there to be reminded of how privileged you are to play hockey for a living? Even for players who are injured long term like David Reinbacher for instance, seeing courageous kids battle life threatening illnesses can help put a lost season in perspective.

As songwriters Midge Ure and Bob Geldof put it when they wrote the Christmas classic Do They Know it's Christmas?:

There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing is
The bitter sting of tears

And the Christmas bells that ring there
Are the clanging chimes of doom
Well, tonight thank God it's them instead of you

That last lyric is the part Bono had to sing in the original version and he feared he would seem like an awful human being for singing it, but it really is at Christmas that we get to realize how much we have and how lucky we are. It's that realization that gets so many human beings to want to help those who need it.

If you can, follow the Canadiens' lead and lend a helping hand this Christmas season, be it by taking part in Operation Pere Noel or giving to a charity for instance. There are plenty or less fortunate people around who could use them and you'll be helping to make a difference.

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