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FORT LAUDERDALE

The weather provided a perfect metaphor for the Canadiens’ situation as the team enjoyed a day off Monday.

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As the temperature pushed into the 80s under a hot sun, there were ominous clouds lurking off the coast and the weatherman was calling for scattered thunderstorms.

There’s also a cloud hanging over the Canadiens as they await a prognosis on leading scorer Max Pacioretty. He suffered what appeared to be a concussion — the Canadiens are calling it an upper-body injury — when he slid backward into the boards during the first period of Sunday’s 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers.

With a playoff spot and home-ice advantage in at least the first round of the playoffs firmly in hand, the Canadiens can survive the final two games of the regular season without Pacioretty. But the offensively challenged team will have serious problems if Pacioretty isn’t available when the playoffs begin next Wednesday or Thursday.