Montreal Canadiens

First place in the Atlantic on the line as the Habs host the Sens
March 25, 2017, 10:06 AM ET [31 Comments]
Jennifer B Cutler
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First place in the Atlantic division will be back on the line Saturday night as the Montreal Canadiens prepare to host the Ottawa Senators at the Bell Centre. After winning both games against the Senators just last weekend, the Canadiens appeared to be in cruise control on their way to the Atlantic division title with games against non playoff teams save for tonight's match to ride out the season. However, the Canadiens took their foot off the gas and instead were able to take only one point against Detroit and Carolina while the Senators picked up three. Now the Senators are just one point behind the Canadiens and hold the advantage with a game in hand.

Carey Price will start in goal for the Canadiens while the anticipated lineup changes should include Nathan Beaulieu and Dwight King drawing back in for Brandon Davidson and Andreas Martinsen. Beaulieu must prove that he can play reliable and consistent hockey as when he and Jordie Benn are on their game they can make a formidable third defensive pairing, capable of contributing a solid 16-19 minutes a night and taking the burden off the veteran pair of Andrei Markov and Shea Weber. While Martinsen played well in his Bell Centre debut against the Hurricanes, head coach Claude Julien would like the veteran King to bring to the ice night in and night out. He was a big part of the Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup win in 2014 and certainly has more to offer the Canadiens.

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The Canadiens know that they have to be hungrier than then Senators this evening. It is time to start playing playoff hockey and they cannot afford to take anymore games lightly as they close up the season. It is time to bear down and it starts with captain Max Pacioretty. He has been the model of consistency for much of the season but is pointless in his last five games. In the past when he has called himself out he usually follows it up with a strong performance. Pacioretty needs to lead his team tonight and help get them back on track.

Expect Craig Anderson to start the game for the Senators. Defenseman Marc Methot will obviously miss tonight's game after his finger was lacerated by Sidney Crosby this week. While the result was certainly unfortunate, the slash was a play that happens countless times in a game. Senators fans may not be happy but Crosby did not deserve further discipline for that play.

In other news the Canadiens have signed prospect Jeremiah Addison to an entry level contract: