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Blue Jackets-Canadiens Preview

Nov 24, 2009 - 5:37 AM By JON PALMIERI STATS Editor

Columbus (12-6-3) at Montreal (11-11-1), 7:30 p.m. EDT

After a slow start, Carey Price has rounded into form. The Columbus Blue Jackets hope they can say the same of Steve Mason in the very near future.

A pair of goaltenders headed in opposite directions likely will be on display Tuesday night as the Blue Jackets try to rebound from an ugly loss in a matchup with the Montreal Canadiens.

Price has established himself as one of the league's best young goaltenders with two strong seasons for the Canadiens (11-11-1) since he was the fifth overall selection in the 2005 draft. He began 2009-10 as Montreal's No. 1 goalie but an early-season six-game losing streak opened the door for Jaroslav Halak to get more playing time.

Price has since regained the No. 1 job, going 4-2-1 with a 1.94 goals-against average in his past seven appearances while starting the last five games. He had another strong performance in Saturday's 3-2 shootout loss to visiting Detroit, making 32 saves through overtime.

Mason captured the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie with 33 wins last season and helped the Blue Jackets (12-7-3) reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Mason, however, is experiencing a very profound sophomore slump, ranking next-to-last in the NHL with a 3.59 goals-against average.

He was pulled for the third time this season Monday night in Columbus' 7-4 loss to the New York Rangers after allowing four goals on 17 shots. Mason surrendered at least four goals for the eighth time in 17 starts this season.

Coach Ken Hitchcock could start Mathieu Garon, but he wasn't much better than Mason against the Rangers, giving up three goals on 15 shots.

Monday's loss was the Blue Jackets' first in regulation since a 9-1 defeat to Detroit on Nov. 11 in Hitchcock's 1,000th NHL game. Columbus has earned at least a point in nine of its last 11 games (6-2-3).

Blue Jackets star forward Rick Nash has been held without a point in consecutive games for the first time this season and was a minus-4 in Monday's loss.

"When your best players are minus big time, you're not going to win many games," Hitchcock said.

The Canadiens lost after regulation for the first time this season Saturday, dropping to 8-1 in games decided beyond the third period.

Mike Cammalleri scored two third-period goals for Montreal, which is 1-3-1 in its last five home games.

Cammalleri has four goals and two assists in his last five contests overall and three goals and five points in his last three against Columbus. He'll need to continue to produce with center Scott Gomez sidelined by a lower-body injury suffered in Friday's 3-2 win over Washington.

Center Tomas Plekanec has also been hot lately, tallying one goal and seven assists in his past five games.

Montreal made a minor trade Monday, acquiring Benoit Pouliot from Minnesota in exchange for Guillaume Latendresse in a swap of left wings. Pouliot - the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft - had two goals and two assists in 14 games this season for the Wild.

The Canadiens will be without enforcer Georges Laraque after he received a five-game suspension for an incident Saturday against the Red Wings when he collided with Niklas Kronwall resulting in a leg-on-leg, open-ice hit.

The Blue Jackets have won consecutive games against the Canadiens, including a 4-3 shootout victory Nov. 7, 2008, in the most recent meeting. Columbus is 3-1-0 with one tie all-time at Montreal.