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Canadiens-Senators Preview

Oct 23, 2010 - 3:50 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Montreal (3-2-1) at Ottawa (1-4-1), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Montreal overcame a two-goal deficit to beat Ottawa at home last week. The Canadiens could be in for an even tougher challenge trying to repeat that result on the road against the Senators.

The Canadiens look to avoid a third consecutive road loss to the Senators on Saturday night.

After recording a season-high 40 shots in a 4-3 win that snapped a four-game skid versus Ottawa last Saturday, Montreal (3-2-1) was stymied in a 3-0 loss to Martin Brodeur and New Jersey on Thursday.

"It's six games into the season. You're not going to be the perfect team right away - it takes time," forward Dustin Boyd told the Canadiens' official website.

Though the defeat snapped the Canadiens' stretch of points in four straight contests, it didn't seem to shake the club's confidence.

"We had a lot of chances (Thursday)," Canadiens forward Tom Pyatt said. "We just have to continue doing the same thing, but with a different result."

The Canadiens are striving for the same result as their last meeting with the Senators (2-4-1). Montreal, however, has lost three of four at Ottawa.

Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn each had a goal with an assist versus Ottawa. Each player has recorded two and three assists in their last four games against the Senators.

While that pair has played well early for Montreal, veteran forwards Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez have combined for two goals and two assists through six games.

Gionta, however, has six goals and six assists in his last 13 games versus Ottawa. Gomez has been held without a point in his last three against the Senators.

Carey Price, with a 2.64 goals-against average while starting every game, recorded 16 saves last Saturday to improve to 5-4 with a 2.90 GAA against the Senators.

After scoring once in the previous six games, captain Daniel Alfredsson recorded his 1,000th point with a hat trick as the Senators avoided a third straight loss by winning 4-2 at Buffalo on Friday.

"It's a big milestone, but it hasn't been on my mind at all with the struggles we've been going through," said Alfredsson, who became the 75th player in NHL history to reach 1,000.

Alfredsson has eight career hat tricks, but none have come against the Canadiens. With two assists against them last weekend, Alfredsson has three goals and 12 assists in his last 11 games versus Montreal.

It's uncertain if Ottawa will have top center Jason Spezza available after he missed Friday's contest with a lingering groin injury. Spezza missed the season opener with the injury, but totaled a goal and four assists in the next five games.

Brian Elliott, who stopped 33 shots against Montreal last Saturday, could be back in net after making 34 saves at Buffalo to improve to 2-2. Taking over for injured starter Pascal Leclaire, Elliott is 3-2-1 with a 3.11 GAA versus Montreal.

Backup Robin Lehner has stopped all 10 shots he's seen in his first two career games this season. The 19-year-old made three saves in his NHL debut against Montreal.