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Canadiens-Thrashers Preview

Dec 11, 2009 - 6:55 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Montreal (15-15-2) at Atlanta (15-11-3), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Despite losing their last game, the Montreal Canadiens are satisfied with how they've been playing.

The Atlanta Thrashers, meanwhile, are looking for the puck to start bouncing their way.

Montreal tries to rebound from a loss to the defending Stanley Cup champions by handing Atlanta a fourth consecutive defeat Saturday night.

The Canadiens (15-15-2) had their three-game winning streak snapped with Thursday's 3-2 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins.

Despite being outshot 41-21, Montreal nearly made it 3-all with 5:52 remaining, but Scott Gomez's shot into the back of the net came after the referee's whistle.

"I think the puck was loose, but the decision was taken during the play and we can't change it now, it's too late," center Maxim Lapierre said. "But I think the team gave a good effort. Carey (Price) played unbelievable again for us (with 38 saves), and we still have to build on the last four games we've played."

Montreal had won its previous three games by a combined 12-3 score despite being outshot by an average of 10.0 in those contests.

The Canadiens, who had a season-low 13 shots in Monday's 3-1 victory over Philadelphia, have not given up a power-play goal in their last 27 short-handed situations.

If Price gets another start Saturday, he'll look for a better result than in Montreal's 5-4 loss to Atlanta on Nov. 3. Price stopped just 25 of 31 shots while losing his sixth straight start, but he's since gone 7-5-2 with a 2.17 goals-against average. He is 3-2-1 with a 2.64 GAA in six career starts versus the Thrashers.

Jaroslav Halak, who made 22 saves in a 2-1 shootout victory over Atlanta on Oct. 20, is 0-2-0 with a 9.49 GAA in two career starts at Philips Arena.

Montreal hasn't won in regulation in Atlanta since a 4-1 victory Jan. 18, 2007.

The Thrashers (15-11-3) are 4-0-1 at home in the series since that defeat. They are returning to Philips Arena following a 1-3-0 trip, capped by a 4-2 loss to Vancouver on Thursday in their third game in four nights.

Nik Antropov made it 1-all with a first-period power-play goal, but he accidentally knocked a pass from Daniel Sedin into the Thrashers' goal early in the second.

Later in that period, Atlanta rookie Evander Kane had a goal waved off.

"We've been getting bad breaks the last two or three games, and when that one went off Antropov, when you are a fragile team your team starts to sag," coach John Anderson said. "And then when Evander Kane scores and they don't allow it, again it starts sucking the life out of your team."

Ondrej Pavelec made 34 saves, but he allowed four goals on the Canucks' first 12 shots. He is 0-3-0 with a 4.60 GAA in his last three starts.

Johan Hedberg, 6-2-0 with a 1.97 GAA in his last eight appearances, is 1-6-0 with a tie in eight career starts versus Montreal.

Thrashers center Rich Peverley, who leads the team with 29 points, has a goal and three assists against the Canadiens this season. Colby Armstrong scored in both matchups with Montreal and had a goal Thursday for the second straight game.

Canadiens winger Brian Gionta has three goals in the season series. He's scored four in his last five games overall.