Montreal Canadiens

Game preview: Habs vs. Sens Take 1
March 18, 2017, 9:02 AM ET [46 Comments]
Jennifer B Cutler
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If ever there was a back to back games situation in the NHL where the four available points were monumental, this weekend’s matches between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators would be the perfect example of such with first place in the Atlantic division literally on the line. The Canadiens currently own top spot in the Atlantic with 86 points however the Senators are right behind them in second place with 85 points. The Senators continue to hold a slight advantage over the Canadiens as they still have one game in hand and so they are ultimately the masters of their own destiny. Should either team sweep the weekend series, it would likely be enough for that team to remain in first place and win the division. However, it should be noted that the two rivals will have one additional game against each other on March 25th and so that game may yet become the final nail in the coffin for of these teams.

The Senators will host the Canadiens on Saturday night and then both teams will travel to Montreal for a rematch Sunday at the Bell Centre. Carey Price has been confirmed as the starter for the Canadiens on Saturday while head coach Claude Julien. Only after the first match will the team decide if Price will start a second game in as many nights for the first time this season or if Al Montoya will get a rare Bell Centre start on Sunday. While the lineup will be confirmed later on Sunday, at practice the lines were:

Forwards:

Pacioretty-Galchenyuk-Radulov
Byron-Plekanec-Gallagher
Lehkonen-Danault-Shaw
King/Martinsen-Ott-Mitchell

Defense:

Markov-Weber
Davidson-Petry
Beaulieu-Benn
Emelin

It appears that Nathan Beaulieu has the inside edge of playing against the Senators as he took first reps next to Jordie Benn. Alexei Emelin had what was likely his worst performance of his entire career against the Chicago Blackhawks and it is hard to imagine that the coaching staff has any confidence in the veteran when his recent body of work is taken into consideration. To say that Emelin has been struggling as of late would be a mild statement. He deserves to sit and must first prove himself in practice before he gets back into the lineup.

Beaulieu was not a happy camper about being a healthy scratch for the first time this season against the Blackhawks on Tuesday. When pressed about it by the media, Beaulieu was very candid and honest about it:










Perhaps Beaulieu could have been a little more tactful when answering those questions from the media. However, sometimes candour is refreshing. He should be upset to not have been in the lineup. It would be abnormal if he did not feel that way. It is up to Beaulieu though to make it impossible for the coaches to take him out of the lineup. If he plays consistently and up to his capabilities, he will be in the lineup each and every night. Beaulieu and Benn had formed a nice pairing as the former benefited from playing with a stable partner who was very communicative with him on the ice. A third pairing capable of contributing a solid 15-18 minutes a night is a luxury in the NHL and especially beneficial to the top pairing of Andrei Markov and Shea Weber who will need their minutes watched.

The Senators lineup will only be known later as they played Thursday night and did not practice on Friday. What is known is that Craig Anderson is healthy and will at least backup former Canadiens Mike Condon if he is not able to start a game.

Any lineup news will be updated during the day.

It was still an exciting day for hockey in Ottawa on Friday as the Gary Bettman and the NHL came to town to officially announce an outdoor NHL game on December 16th, 2017 at Lansdowne Park between the Senators and Canadiens, celebrating the NHL’s 100th anniversary. Coincidentally it is also well timed to celebrate Canada’s 150th year. It will be sure to be an exciting event. Book your hotel rooms now!