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Capitals-Canadiens Preview

Nov 27, 2009 - 6:10 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Washington (14-5-6) at Montreal (12-12-1), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin isn't expected to be suspended after drawing a major boarding penalty. The Montreal Canadiens, meanwhile, can't be eager to face another premier scorer.

After holding on for a win despite Ovechkin's late ejection, the Capitals look to take advantage of an injury-riddled Canadiens team Saturday night.

Montreal (12-12-1) lost 3-1 to Pittsburgh on Wednesday night, with Sidney Crosby scoring a goal and assisting on another.

Now Montreal will likely have to face Ovechkin, who doesn't expect any further disciplinary action from the league after being ejected in the third period of Washington's 2-0 win over Buffalo on Wednesday night.

Ovechkin was banished 3:38 into the final period when he ran Sabres right wing Patrick Kaleta into the boards, but he scored his team-leading 17th goal in the first period.

"He does so much for our team," Capitals defenseman Brian Pothier said. "Every night, he bails us out."

Ovechkin was held without a point when Washington (14-5-6) lost 3-2 to the Canadiens at home Nov. 20, but he had eight goals and three assists in his previous seven games against them.

The Capitals are 8-0-3 when Ovechkin has found the back of the net.

Washington had lost four of five, and continues to play with a banged-up blueline. Defensemen Tom Poti and Shaone Morrisonn have been out the last three games with upper-body injuries, and their status remains uncertain.

Still, Semyon Varlamov is coming off his first regular-season shutout, stopping 25 shots in his third straight start. Varlamov, 21, has surrendered two goals or fewer in five of his last six contests.

He earned a win in his only game against the Canadiens, making 32 saves in a 2-1 Capitals win Dec. 13.

Montreal is coming off a terrible game offensively, managing 19 shots. The Canadiens were without right wing Andrei Kostitsyn, who was on crutches after suffering a lower-body injury in a 5-3 win over Columbus on Tuesday night.

Kostitsyn has two goals and eight assists.

Coach Jacques Martin, though, is hoping Montreal will get some help.

Center Benoit Pouliot (wrist) may be set to play his first game for the Canadiens after being acquired in a trade with Minnesota on Monday. He was the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft, but never blossomed with the Wild.

Center Scott Gomez (groin) and defenseman Jaroslav Spacek (lower-body injury) may also be ready to return.

Gomez has missed three straight games. He has two goals and nine assists in his first season with Montreal after being acquired from New York in an offseason trade.

Spacek, who signed as a free agent in July, has been out the last two games. He has one goal and six assists in 23 contests.

Carey Price has remained healthy after missing 11 games due to injuries last season. He has given up three goals in each of his last two games after posting a 1.94 goals-against average in his previous seven contests.