Canadiens' Joel Armia game-time decision for Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final

The Montreal Canadiens received some bad news over the weekend when they learned that forward Joel Armia was in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol ahead of the start of the Stanley Cup Final versus the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night. 

However, Sean Farrell of the league's website explained that Armia has been cleared and is taking a private plane to Tampa. He will be a game-time decision for Game 1 of the Final at the Lightning. 

"He got clearance so excited to have him join us, but we'll have to make all those decisions on game-time because we don't know when he's getting here," Canadiens assistant Luke Richardson told reporters after Monday's morning skate. 

Armia reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus in March and missed eight games between March 22 and April 10 while in the protocol. He's tallied five goals and three assists across 17 postseason games for the Canadiens. 

Montreal coach Dominique Ducharme has been in the protocol for over a week and is expected to miss the first two contests of the Final. He hopes to be cleared for Game 3 in Montreal on July 2.