GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Montreal Canadiens - 7:00pm ET - Sat. Oct. 17th, 2009

The Ottawa Senators (4-2-0, 8 points, 1st in the NE) pay a visit to the Bell Centre to take on the Montreal Canadiens (2-4-0, 4 points, 2nd last in the NE). The Sens are coming off a very convincing win over the Tampa Bay Lightning that saw Milan Michalek tally his first career hat trick. The Sens showed some great improvement and a solid overall team effort across the board against the Lightning. The Habs are coming off their home opening loss to the Colorado Avalanche and have lost 4 games in a row since winning their first two of the season. The Habs lost Markov for up to 4 months in their first game of the season, a huge blow to their blue line and they are missing him. The Habs went through a radical over haul in the off-season that saw a ton of players leave and a lot of new faces arrive. No doubt the team is still trying to find some chemistry and they won't be too happy about losing their 100th season home opener. Look for the Habs to step up their efforts and for the Sens to continue to build on their improved play.

This will mark Kovalev's first return to Montreal since he signed a $10M/two-year deal with the Sens in the off season to the shock of Habs fans around the world. This will no doubt be a huge game for both him and the fans at the Bell Centre. Hopefully Kovalev and Habs-killer Alfie can power the Sens to another convincing win and take advantage of the absent Markov.

Game Coverage:
- TV: CBC, RDS (HD), NHL CI (out of market)
- Radio: Team 1200
- Web: streams TBD

TSN's Ice Chips:

Source: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=11009

Ottawa Senators:

Several Senators did not take the morning skate Friday in anticipation of Saturday’s game with the Canadiens. Defenceman Anton Volchenkov was not on the ice for undisclosed reasons while Jesse Winchester and Filip Kuba continue to rest injuries. - TSN

Projected Lines vs. Canadiens

Forwards:
Michalek - Spezza - Cheechoo
Kovalev - Fisher - Alfredsson
Foligno - Shannon - Neil
Ruutu - Kelly/Regin - Donovan

Defencemen:
Phillips - Volchenkov
Campoli - Karlsson
Picard - Carkner

Goaltenders:
Leclaire
Elliott

Injuries:
Winchester (knee, on injured reserve, expected to play Saturday), Regin (upper body, expected to play Saturday), Kuba (lower body). Clouston indicated that Regin and Winchester are very close to returning to the line-up. Kuba is expected to miss Saturday's game against Montreal.

From Clouston's presser after practice on Friday: Volchie just resting, he's fine. There probably won't be any line-up changes tomorrow. Regin may be in the line-up, they'll see tomorrow morning, but no decision now. Winch won't be in the line-up for sure.


Montreal Canadiens:

Carey Price will once again get the start in net Saturday when the Canadiens host the Senators. Max Pacioretty and Glen Metropolit both missed practice on Friday. Pacioretty was given a therapy day while Metropolit is suffering through a rib injury and is doubtful for Saturday. - TSN

Projected Lines vs. Senators

Forwards:
Cammalleri - Gomez - Gionta
Kostitsyn - Plekanec - D'Agostini
Latendresse - Lapierre - Moen
Stewart - Chipchura - Laraque

Defencemen:
Hamrlik - Spacek
Gorges - Gill
Mara - Belle

Goaltenders:
Price
Halak

Injuries:
Markov (left ankle tendon surgery, out 4 months), O'Byrne (knee, out indefintely), Metropolit (ribs, on injured reserve)


Game Day Previews:

OttawaSenators.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://senators.nhl.com/club/preview.htm?id=2009020095

NHL.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2009020095

Ottawa Citizen Game Day Preview:

Source: http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/hockeycapital/archive/2009/10/17/gameday-preview-senators-at-canadiens-on-october-17-2009.aspx

Sportsnet.ca Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/scores/20091017/Ott@Mon/story

ESPN Game Day Preview:

Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/preview?gameId=291017010

ESPN Stats Comparison:




Media Links:

- Audio of Clouston presser following Friday's practice: http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/091016_Clouston-s.mp3
- Audio of Clouston presser following Saturday's practice: http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/091017_Clouston.mp3
- Game notes and line up (pdf file) for Saturday's game: http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/Ottawa-Montreal-091017.pdf
- Pascal Leclaire talks with the media in the morning (French): http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/091017_Leclaire.mp3

Noteable Senators articles

Ottawa Sun:
Kovalev ready for the spotlight in Montreal: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/10/16/11426626.html

Ottawa Citizen:
Sens find their spark: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Senators+find+their+spark/2108614/story.html

Ottawa Citizen:
Clouston can start picking and choosing: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Clouston+start+picking+choosing/2108626/story.html

Ottawa Citizen:
Point shots from Sens vs Lightning: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Point+shots+from+Sens+Lightning/2108130/story.html

Ottawa Citizen:
Numbers don't add up: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Numbers/2104818/story.html

OttawaSenators.com
This touches my heart: http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=502265

OttawaSenators.com:
A big part of our team: http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=502150

OttawaSenators.com:
Join the fight against cancer: http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=502134

Ottawa Sun:
Hat trick awesome for Michalek: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/10/15/11418416.html

Ottawa Sun:
A-Train checks back in: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/columnists/don_brennan/2009/10/15/11418781.html


Noteable Canadiens articles:

Ottawa Sun:
Habs drop home opener to Avs: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/10/15/11418421.html

Ottawa Citizen:
Avs' rookie ruins Habs home debut: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/rookie+ruins+Habs+home+debut/2108631/story.html


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GO SENS GO!!!

Let's get this party started!

GO SENS GO!!!

Atta boy! I knew youy had it in you to deliver the goods ahead of schedule

I'm a little concerned though that the game does not appear to be on CBC-HD. Boo! Two Canadian teams, divisional rivals, no less, and I'll bet on of the HD trucks will be covering the Leafs' attempt to tie one of the club's all-time records (winless in 7 to start a season); the other truck is out West covering covering the Wild at Vancouver. Boo, again!

Is the RDS-HD free preview on until the end of October or am I mis-remembering?

Yeah, the Leafs/Rags game will be the national CBC game. CBC's web site should have the Sens/Habs game streaming. I think the free RDS-HD preview is over. What game is listed on CBC in Ottawa?

I'm just happy I can relax and watch this one in the comfort of my home.

Great job Shabbs! I love these game day previews!

The return of Kovalev!!! Should be very interesting, hopefully he has a superstar outing.

We need to bury this team, they are in a downward spiral right now.

shabbs wrote:Yeah, the Leafs/Rags game will be the national CBC game. CBC's web site should have the Sens/Habs game streaming. I think the free RDS-HD preview is over. What game is listed on CBC in Ottawa?

Oh, they'll show the Sens/Habs game on CBC-HD, I'm sure of that. But just like last time it will be (at best) up-converted SD content. Did I say "Boo CBC" yet?

Definitely seems like the right time to be facing the Habs. Also, with the Bruins struggling it looks like a good time to be facing them in the next few games as well.

Strike while the iron is hot and take no prisoners! GO SENS GO!!!

shabbs wrote:Strike while the iron is hot and take no prisoners! GO SENS GO!!!

I want to see A-Train and M.C. Hammer (Carkner's new nickname) go medieval on those smurfs.

Not liking this MC Hammer business... there's gotta be something better...

Love this guy...

shabbs wrote:Yeah, the Leafs/Rags game will be the national CBC game. CBC's web site should have the Sens/Habs game streaming. I think the free RDS-HD preview is over. What game is listed on CBC in Ottawa?

\


Booooo two Canadian teams playing should be the national game....This sucks as I wont be able to watch it.

Great GDT Shabbs. I'm really looking forward to this game. I haven't watched the Habs play yet and want to see how we stack up against another team that's still searching for an identity.

If the Sens look as good as they did against TBL, this should be another step towards the most complete team we've seen in the nation's capital in....forever.

Check Jarkko Ruutu out... 2nd in points on the team behind Alfie. 2 goals and 3 assists.