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Game #34 Sat, 30 Mar 2013 Rangers @ Canadiens 7:00 PM


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Will visit the Bell Center March 30 2013, 7:00 PM ET ...CBC/RDS

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Practice Lines Friday afternoon

Forwards:
Ryder - Plekanec - Gionta
Pacioretty - Desharnais - Gallagher
Prust - Eller - Galchenyuk
Moen - Halpern - Armstrong/Blunden

Defence:
Markov - Emelin
Gorges - Subban
Bouillon - Kaberle/Weber

Goaltending:
Price
Budaj

Rangers-Canadiens Preview

The Montreal Canadiens jumped back into first place in the Northeast Division by avoiding a third straight loss their last time out.

They may have a good chance to get on another roll starting Saturday night when they look to continue their domination of the slumping and offensively challenged New York Rangers.

The Canadiens (21-7-5) have been off since Wednesday, when they defeated Boston 6-5 in a shootout to move one point ahead of the Bruins for the top spot in the division. Montreal erased a two-goal third-period deficit, getting the equalizer from Andrei Markov with 8.2 seconds left.

"When you get down two goals twice and come back (with) two goals you have a lot of character," said rookie right wing Brendan Gallagher, who scored in the third and added the shootout winner. "It's great to see it."

Montreal had managed one goal over its past two games before scoring three times in the third Wednesday.

"In the third, we knew we had to change it up a bit and start getting back to our game," said forward Michael Ryder, who scored twice, "getting pucks deep and skating. That's what we do best."

The Canadiens have certainly done it at home against the Rangers in recent seasons, winning seven consecutive meetings there and allowing one total goal in the last four of those, with four shutouts during the seven-game span. Montreal has gone 9-0-1 in the past 10 home matchups, outscoring New York 42-18.

Leading the way has been Carey Price, who has blanked the Rangers in three straight home starts and hasn't given up a goal to them at the Bell Centre in 192 minutes, 45 seconds. He made 17 saves in a 3-0 victory Feb. 23 for Montreal's second win in as many meetings with New York this season.

If he's in net Saturday, he'll have some added incentive to play well after being pulled Wednesday, when he allowed four goals on 26 shots and was replaced by Peter Budaj.

Whoever gets the start will be facing a Rangers team that continued its season-long run of inconsistency in another punchless performance Thursday. New York (16-14-3) couldn't build on a 5-2 win over Philadelphia in its previous game, losing 3-0 at Ottawa to give it a 3-5-1 mark in its past nine.

Excluding the Flyers game, the Rangers have totaled 10 goals in their past eight contests. Tied with the Islanders for final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, they missed a chance to move into a tie with New Jersey for seventh.

"I don't know what to say. I have a few thoughts but I don't think it's going to help our group right now. Bottom line is it's not good enough and we're not going to make it (to the postseason) if ..." said goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, trailing off before continuing. "We need everybody right now and we need top plays and smart plays for 60 minutes.

"We're playing teams that are working really hard and we have to match it. If we're not matching it we're not going to win."

The Rangers' 78 goals are the fewest in the NHL. They've gone 2 for their last 21 on the power play and rank near the bottom of the NHL at 14.6 percent.

They've also given up one power-play goal in each of their last five games and seven of eight.

"I talked about it the other night that if we're losing special teams (battles) we'll have a tough time winning games," Lundqvist said. "It's really disappointing and I'm going to leave it at that."

Montreal has won four of five in the series overall.

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* Prust could make his return to Canadiens' lineup

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Before practice Friday morning in Brossard, the Canadiens sent defenceman Jarred Tinordi and forward Gabriel Dumont back to the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs.

In six games with the Canadiens, Tinordi had one assist and was plus-2, while Dumont had two assists and was even in plus/minus in eight games.

The latest rookie defenceman entering the revolving door of the blueline corps is Nathan Beaulieu, who has been called up from Hamilton. Beaulieu was the Canadiens’ first-round draft choice (17th overall) in 2011. He has six goals, 19 assists and is minus-9 with the Bulldogs.

Coach Michel Therrien announced after practice that Beaulieu would be in the lineup Saturday against the New York Rangers (7 p.m., CBC, RDS, TSN Radio 690) and that Carey Price would start in goal.

Brandon Prust, who has been sidelined with a shoulder injury, joined his teammates on the ice for practice Friday, while Renaud Lavoie of RDS reported on Twitter that he’s been told Ryan White (ankle) will be back in the lineup soon. White skated alone before practice. Defenceman Yannick Weber has also been cleared for a return to action after recovering from a lower-body injury.

Prust practised on a line with Lars Eller and Alex Galchenyuk, while Colby Armstrong dropped down to right wing on a line with Jeff Halpern and Travis Moen.

“I’m feeling ready to go, so we’re going to make a final decision tomorrow after the skate, or even after warm up,” Prust told reporters after practice.

The only players who weren’t on the ice for practice were Raphael Diaz and Rene Bourque, both sidelined with concussions.



Thanks for the awesome GDT FH!

;)

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Hi everyone,

Lucky enough to be going to the game this evening and was wondering if someone could tell me what time the Bell Centre opens before the game. I've had a look on the Habs' site but can't seem to find any information.

Thanks for any help!

Cheers.

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Hi everyone,

Lucky enough to be going to the game this evening and was wondering if someone could tell me what time the Bell Centre opens before the game. I've had a look on the Habs' site but can't seem to find any information.

Thanks for any help!

Cheers.

It's always 90 minutes before the game so 5:30 pm tonight

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Prust in, Blunden scratched, Kaberle on waivers... busy day.

Very habby about Prusty's return; he said he really wanted to be back for this tilt... no surprise about Kabbie; his days were numbered since the start of the season... but I am surprised about two other things... the Beaulieu call-up; at least he'll be out there with Frank the Tank... and Biron instead of Lundqvist in a game that NYR should view as a "must win"; doesn't make sense to me... maybe they're assuming the Isles definitely will lose to the Pens tonight <scratches head>.

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Very habby about Prusty's return; he said he really wanted to be back for this tilt... no surprise about Kabbie; his days were numbered since the start of the season... but I am surprised about two other things... the Beaulieu call-up; at least he'll be out there with Frank the Tank... and Biron instead of Lundqvist in a game that NYR should view as a "must win"; doesn't make sense to me... maybe they're assuming the Isles definitely will lose to the Pens tonight <scratches head>.

Lundqvist is not very successful at the Bell Centre and Biron usually is so I understand the goalie choice

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600full-bring-it-on_-fight-to-the-finish

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