Injury Issues
East Rutherford,NJ – The Montreal Canadiens have continued winning despite an injury list that keeps growing.
The Canadiens (21-9-6) will not have Alex Tanguay available as they look to extend their three-game winning streak on Friday night at the Prudential Center against the New Jersey Devils.
Oddsmakers from Online Sportsbook Sportsbook.com have made the Devils –125 money line favorites for Tuesday’s game against the Canadiens. Current NHL Public Betting Information shows that 63% of more than 187 bets for this game have been placed on the Devils -125.
Tanguay will miss six weeks after injuring his left shoulder in Tuesday’s 2-1 shootout win in Tampa Bay. The winger, who was second on the team with 10 goals and third with 26 points, absorbed a hard check into the boards from the Lightning’s Evgeny Artyukhin and left in the first period.
Montreal was already without captain Saku Koivu, who has not played since Dec. 11 due to a high ankle sprain, as well as Christopher Higgins (groin), Mathieu Dandenault (broken arm) and enforcer Georges Laraque (groin).
On Thursday, the Canadiens called up forwards Max Pacioretty and Kyle Chipchura, defenseman Yannick Weber and goaltender Marc Denis from their AHL affiliate in Hamilton.
Without Tanguay and much scoring in Tuesday’s game, Montreal instead relied on its defense as Carey Price stopped 21 shots to win for the fifth time in six games. The Canadiens, 5-0-1 in that span, have not allowed more than three goals in 12 consecutive games.
"We’re playing really well defensively," Montreal coach Guy Carbonneau said. "Sometimes when you do that, you find ways to win games. That’s exactly what we’re doing right now."
The recall of Denis means Jaroslav Halak will probably start in place of Price. Halak has never faced New Jersey and hasn’t played since Dec. 20, but has consecutive victories in his last two starts.
An already struggling Montreal power play could take a hit without Tanguay, who was tied for the team lead with four power-play goals. The Canadiens have scored once in the last 13 times with a man advantage, and rank near the bottom with a 14.1-percent conversion rate.
Inconsistency has plagued the Devils during a 2-3-0 stretch, which includes a 4-2 loss on Wednesday at Dallas.
After suffering consecutive shutouts, New Jersey scored four goals in back-to-back victories. But the Devils’ latest struggles were most evident in the second period as they were outshot 19-2 and allowed two goals.
"The second period was a lack of competitiveness and a lack of intensity," New Jersey coach Brent Sutter said. "It was probably our worst period all season."
The Devils (21-12-3) have also given up seven goals in their last two games after giving up no more than two in five previous contests.
Scott Clemmensen has started the past two, but had a better performance in his only meeting with Montreal, making 25 saves in a 2-1 overtime victory on Dec. 6. Since taking over after Martin Brodeur’s bicep injury and Kevin Weekes’ ineffectiveness, Clemmensen is 13-6-1 with a 2.23 goals-against average.
Friday’s game could be another tight one as Montreal and New Jersey rank among the league’s best defensive squads. The Canadiens have allowed 2.42 goals per game, while the Devils have surrendered 2.56.
Zach Parise, who scored the winning goal last month against the Canadiens, was held scoreless against Dallas but has three goals in his last three games. He leads New Jersey with 21 goals and 44 points.
Montreal has won three of the last four meetings between the teams, but New Jersey has taken five of the last six at home.
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Posted: 1/2/09 12:05AM ET
