Game Thread: Habs hope for a better disciplined night vs Rangers

The Canadiens will be hoping to avoid the penalty box this time around, as the host the New York Rangers. The Habs ran a string of minor penalties in their 5-3 loss to the Rangers at MSG, albeit the officiating was rather laxed.

Since that game, the Canadiens PK has been perfect in 25 times short handed.

The Rangers will be looking to extend their winning streak to eight games, and are 8-1-1 in their last ten.

Carey Price gets the start for Montreal and is 3-0-1 with a 1.72 GAA against the Rangers at the Bell Centre. Martin Biron will be between the pipes for the Blueshirts.

On the EOTP side of things, Andrew Berkshire is a healthy scratch in the commentary. He is hanging out with the HIO Summiteers tonight.

Update via HIO's Dave Stubbs: That's not a notebook that Jacques Martin is writing in. According to Stubbs,"it's a two-sided, fold-in-three pre-printed cardboard card on which he charts plays, lineups, etc."

The pre-game will honour the late Eddy Palchak.

Pre-Game reads:

Hockey's Future has the Habs prospect depth ranked 24th.

Chris Boucher breaks down the Habs at ES.

Truculence on Twitter: Brian Burke is on Twitter.

Game prediction from GBS's Allan Doyle: Habs 3-1 (EN goal).

When Habs media need a filler, the look to Georges Laraque. It appears that Mark Recchi is now the Boston Bruins go to man for Boston Radio. Kevin Bieksa responded to Dr. Recchi's latest remarks on the Vancouver Canucks, "Isn't he retired? Tell him to play a round of golf or take a nap. What's he chirping us for?"

MONTREAL CANADIENS PROJECTED LINEUP

Forwards

Mike Cammalleri - Tomas Plekanec - Brian Gionta

Max Pacioretty - David Desharnais - Erik Cole

Lars Eller - Scott Gomez - Travis Moen

Mathieu Darche - Petteri Nokelainen - Aaron Palushaj

Defensemen

Josh Gorges - P.K. Subban

Alexei Emelin - Raphael Diaz

Frederic St- Denis - Yannick Weber

Goalies

Carey Price - Peter Budaj

Rangers vs Canadiens coverage

Rangers coverage from: Blueshirt Banter