Canadiens' Ducharme expects to return for Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final

Montreal Canadiens interim head coach Dominique Ducharme said Saturday he should return to the team's bench for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Ducharme tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from Las Vegas after Game 2 of Montreal's semifinal series against the Golden Knights and has been away from the Canadiens since. He's been symptom-free since his diagnosis but is serving a 14-day quarantine.

The Canadiens beat Vegas in six games to reach their first Stanley Cup Final since 1993 under the guidance of assistant coach Luke Richardson while Ducharme watched from home. The 48-year-old said he's pleased with what the team has accomplished.

"I think, right now, our guys are not thinking. They're just executing, just playing," Ducharme said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "I think that's what we wanted to create was for things to become automatic, just second nature. ... I'm really enjoying seeing the team play that way together."

The Canadiens will face the Lightning in Game 1 in Tampa on Monday, with Ducharme on track to return at Montreal's Bell Centre on July 2.

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