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When you had a look at the schedule's opening sequence of games for the 2015-16 campaign, you had to wonder how the Canadiens would do by being handed a four-game road trip to start their year. 2-0 thus far, and with all the required parts playing their roles, the Habs have opened the season in a business-like fashion, and play their toughest opponent of the road trip thus far: the Ottawa Senators.
Tonight's game in Ottawa will be a good test for a team who has looked completely cohesive at times in the first two games of the season, but at others has looked disjointed and exhibiting potentially fatal flaws (such as a one-for-six showing on the power play last night, including a five-on-three that lasted almost 1:30). The Senators have always proven to be a worthy and combative foe for the Habs, and are coming off a shootout victory in Toronto last night for their second win of the season.
Mike Condon will get the start tonight for the Canadiens, giving the Princeton University graduate a chance to shine in his first regular season NHL game. Condon was excellent in the preseason, using his 6'2" frame to make the saves, including a shutout performance that likely propelled him onto the team.
Matthew O'Connor gets his first start for his team, as well. The Senators allowed the Leafs to fire off 41 shots on last night's starter, Craig Anderson, in the Sens' victory (although 7 of those shots came in overtime, during which at one point, the Leafs had a man advantage). This should be a good test for the Habs multi-layered offense to seek the next gear, even if it's just their third game into the season. It's never too early to kick it up a notch, especially against a team with as much hatred for the Canadiens as the Senators.
The puck drops at 7PM EDT.
How To Watch:
In Canadiens region (French): RDS
In Canada (English): Sportsnet One
In the US: NHL Network
Elsewhere: NHL GameCenter, NHL Center Ice
| Left Wing |
Center |
Right Wing |
| Max Pacioretty | Tomas Plekanec | Brendan Gallagher |
| Lars Eller | Alex Galchenyuk | Alexander Semin |
| Tomas Fleischmann | David Desharnais | Dale Weise |
| Brian Flynn | Torrey Mitchell | Devante Smith-Pelly |
| Left Defense |
Right Defense |
| Andrei Markov | P.K. Subban |
| Alexei Emelin | Jeff Petry |
| Nathan Beaulieu | Tom Gilbert |
|
Goaltenders |
| Mike Condon |
| Carey Price |
Scratched: Greg Pateryn, Jarred Tinordi, Paul Byron
Injuries: Michael Bournival (post-concussion syndrome)
| Left Wing |
Center |
Right Wing |
| Mike Hoffman | Kyle Turris | Mark Stone |
| Curtis Lazar | Mika Zibanejad | Bobby Ryan |
| Clarke Macarthur | Jean-Gabriel Pageau | Milan Michalek |
| Alex Chiasson | Zack Smith | Chris Neil |
| Left Defense |
Right Defense |
| Marc Methot | Erik Karlsson |
| Patrick Wiercioch | Cody Ceci |
| Mark Browiecki | Jered Cowen |
|
Goaltenders |
| Matthew O'Connor |
| Craig Anderson |
Scratched: Chris Wideman, Shane Prince
Injuries: Andrew Hammond (groin), Chris Phillips (back)
Check out the enemy over at Silver Seven.