-The Habs were on the ice early, spending several minutes working on their power play in the company of Clement Jodoin and Gerard Gallant before the practice officially began at 11:00 a.m.
-Rene Bourque and Raphael Diaz were both absent from practice, still sidelined by concussions.
-Carey Price has been awarded the Molson Cup for the month of February. The Canadiens goaltender was voted as the first star on one occasion, the second star twice and the third star once over the course of the month to beat out teammates Alex Galchenyuk and Max Pacioretty.
Lines and pairings at practice:
Gionta-Plekanec-Prust
Galchenyuk-Eller-Ryder
Gallagher-Desharnais-Pacioretty
Armstrong-White-Moen
Nokelainen
Gorges-Bouillon
Markov-Emelin
Subban-Kaberle
Weber
Michael Ryder joined his teammates at the ACC on Wednesday morning and underwent his medical exam. He did not take part in the morning skate but will play against the Leafs.
Ryder will wear No.73 with the Canadiens and Brendan Gallagher will switch to No.11, the number he wore with the Vancouver Giants in Junior.
On where Ryder will be slotted into the Canadiens’ lineup, Michel Therrien replied “You’ll find out tonight.”
- After being originally diagnosed with flu-like symptoms, Rene Bourque has been diagnosed with a concussion according to Michel Therrien.
- All players were on the ice for the morning skate at Scotiabank Place, except Bourque (Concussion) and Petteri Nokelainen (Back).- The lines and defense pairings were the same as they were during Saturday’s game against the Rangers.
Lines and D pairings
Pacioretty-Desharnais-Gallagher
Prust-Plekanec-Gionta
Galchenyuk-Eller-Cole
Armstrong-White-Moen
Gorges-Diaz
Bouillon-Subban
Markov-Emelin
Kaberle-Weber
- All players were on the ice for the morning skate at Scotiabank Place, except Rene Bourque (Flu) and Petteri Nokelainen (Back).
- The lines and defense pairings were the same as they were during Saturday’s game against the Rangers.
Lines and D pairings
Pacioretty-Desharnais-Gallagher
Prust-Plekanec-Gionta
Galchenyuk-Eller-Cole
Armstrong-White-Moen
Gorges-Diaz
Bouillon-Subban
Markov-Emelin
Kaberle-Weber
- Sixteen players - eight forwards, seven defensemen and goaltender Peter Budaj - took part in an optional skate on Saturday morning in Brossard ahead of the match-up with the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre.
- Forwards on the ice on Saturday morning included Colby Armstrong, Alex Galchenyuk, Erik Cole, Travis Moen, Brendan Gallagher, David Desharnais, Lars Eller, and Ryan White. Defensemen included Raphael Diaz, Alexei Emelin, Josh Gorges, Tomas Kaberle, Andrei Markov, P.K. Subban and Yannick Weber.
- Brendan Gallagher has indicated that he's received a 'green-light' from team doctors to resume play as early as Saturday night.
- The Hamilton Bulldogs beat the Rochester Americans 3-2 on Friday night in front of over 10,000 specators at the Bell Centre. Michael Blunden, Jarred Tiniordi and Steve Quailer tallied for the Bulldogs, who earned a sixth win in their last eight games.
- Newly appointed Montreal Alouettes head coach Dan Hawkins and his entire coaching staff will be in attendance at Saturday night's contest.
- The power play units were on the ice early working on systems in Brossard.
- Brandon Prust missed Friday’s practice for a therapy day.
- The Hamilton Bulldogs are in action at the Bell Centre on Friday night for a game against the Rochester Americans. Puck drop at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, click HERE
- Brendan Gallagher was cleared for contact and will meet with doctors on Saturday morning, but Michel Therrien confirmed “it looks good” for him to be in the lineup against the Rangers.
Lines and D pairings at practice
Gallagher-Desharnais-Pacioretty
Eller-Galchenyuk-Cole
Gionta-Plekanec-Bourque
Armstrong-White-Moen
Gorges-Diaz
Markov-Emelin
Bouillon-Subban
Kaberle-Weber
- Brendan Gallagher was back on the ice with his teammates for practice on Thursday but has not been cleared for contact and will not be in the lineup against the Islanders.
- Carey Price will get his 13th start of the season on Thursday night against the Isles, looking to add another win to his league-leading nine victories so far.
- Saskatoon Blades forward and Habs prospect Darren Dietz had three assists in his team’s 5-1 blowout win over the Moose Jaw Warriors on Wednesday night to give the BLades a 13th straight win.
- Former Canadiens defenseman Jean Gauthier passed away today at age 75. A Montreal native, Gauthier played 166 games in his NHL career, from 1961 to 1970, including 90 with the Habs (1-20-21, 68 PIMs). He also suited up for seven playoff games (16 PIMs) with the Canadiens, capturing the Stanley Cup with the Habs in 1965.
- Day Off for the Canadiens. Next practice Thursday, February 21 - 10:30 am at Bell Sports Complex in Brossard.
- No morning skate for the Canadiens on Tuesday morning. It's a 7:00 pm puck-drop.
- Brendan Gallagher didn't make the trip to New York. Ryan White should play in the game.
- Carey Price and P.K. Subban took part in the morning skate in Brossard ahead of Monday night's match-up with the Carolina Hurricanes at the Bell Centre. Price was sidelined on Saturday night against the Flyers with a flu virus. He will back up Peter Budaj against Carolina. Subban was suffering from a sore throat on Sunday morning and did not practice with the team.
- Brendan Gallagher did not participate in the morning skate after sustaining a concussion against the Flyers on Saturday night. He is sidelined indefinitely, and the league protocol is being followed in his case. Head coach Michel Therrien confirmed that while Gallagher is feeling better, he will not play Monday night against the Hurricanes or Tuesday night against the New York Rangers.
- Therrien also confirmed that Ryan White will be back in the line-up on Monday night against the Hurricanes after sitting out the last 4 games, and that P.K. Subban and Max Pacioretty will return to action against Carolina.
- Therrien said that while his lines are not yet definitive for Monday night's game, Lars Eller would play wing alongside David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty.
- Petteri Nokelainen, sidelined with a back injury, skated in Brossard on Monday morning under the watchful eye of head athletic therapist Graham Rynbend.
