The Canadiens kick off a three game home stand, thieir last home games of 2011, with a visit from the New York Islanders.
Safe to say we won’t see Peter Budaj in goal. The Habs gave up three consecutive goals to the Islanders during the second period of a 4-3 loss in November.
Matt Moulson had one of those goals for the Islanders, and leads the team in goals with 14. That’s just under 20% of the entire team’s goal production (62) this season. He has 11 points (8 goals) in his seven games. The Isles have gone 4-1-2 during the stretch.
With injuries to Rick DiPietro (big surprise) and Evgeni Nabokov, the Islanders have looked to Al Montoya between the pipes. A former First Round pick of the New York Rangers in 2004, the goalie with a name that sounds like an F-1 driver had gone 3-1-2, before getting pasted for six Penguins goals on Saturday.
Isles Injury report: Nino Niederreiter (concussion), Rick DiPietro (groin), Evgeni Nabokov (groin), Jay Pandolfo (broken foot), Andrew McDonald (right leg), Mark Eaton (knee).
The Canadiens will be hoping to claim at least two of three of these last December home games to close out the year at .500 in the Bell Centre.
Scott Gomez practiced with the team Monday, but is not expected to start. Captain Brian Gionta remains out with a lower body injury.
Chris Campoli returns to the lineup after missing 29 games, and Alexei Emelin is the surprising scratch.
MONTREAL CANADIENS PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Max Pacioretty – David Desharnais – Erik Cole
Mike Cammalleri – Tomas Plekanec – Andrei Kostitsyn
Travis Moen – Lars Eller – Louis Leblanc
Mathieu Darche – Petteri Nokelainen – Yannick Weber
Defensemen
Tomas Kaberle – Chris Campoli
Goalies
Carey Price – Peter Budaj
NEW YORK ISLANDERS PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Matt Moulson – John Tavares – P.A. Parenteau
Michael Grabner – Frans Nielsen – Kyle Okposo
David Ullstrom – Josh Bailey – Brian Rolston
Tim Wallace – Marty Reasoner – Matt Martin
Defence Pairings
Goalies
Al Montoya – Kevin Poulin
Islanders vs Canadiens coverage
Islanders chat at Lighthouse Hockey
