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Canadiens, Maple Leafs renew historic rivalry in Montreal

Feb 12, 2011 - 4:00 PM (Sports Network) - One of the fiercest rivalries in professional sports will be on display tonight in Montreal, as the Canadiens host the Toronto Maple Leafs for a Northeast Division clash at the Bell Centre.

The Habs and Maple Leafs have met for three of their six scheduled contests this season and Toronto has come out on top twice in those games. However, both of the Maple Leafs' wins came on home ice and Montreal notched a 2-0 win in the only game played at the Bell Centre.

Toronto has taken five of seven overall in the series and has also won four of its last six contests in Quebec.

With 66 points, the Canadiens enter tonight trailing Boston by three points for first place in the Northeast Division. Montreal is also sixth in the Eastern Conference and two points behind Washington for the fifth seed.

The Canadiens were on the losing end in their last outing on Thursday, as Kyle Okposo scored in the fourth round of a shootout to lift the New York Islanders to a 4-3 road win. The Islanders came back to tie the game three times, never leading before Okposo snapped a shot that beat Alex Auld in the left side of the net.

Max Pacioretty, Benoit Pouliot and Tomas Plekanec scored for the Canadiens.

Montreal has lost three straight, including Wednesday's spirited 8-6 defeat in Boston in a game that featured a fight between goaltenders Tim Thomas of the Bruins and Carey Price of the Canadiens.

"It was less eventful than last night," Auld said of this one. "I don't think it's the game we wanted, but it's a big point for us. We have to move on."

Auld made 30 saves, but Price is expected to be back between the pipes tonight. Price is 1-1 with a 1.52 goals-against average in two games against the Leafs this season.

Habs defenseman Hal Gill (upper body) and forward Mathieu Darche (lower body) are both doubtful for tonight's tilt after sitting out Thursday.

The Canadiens are 18-7-5 on home ice this year, but have lost two straight as the host.

Toronto had won two in a row before dropping an overtime decision Thursday against the visiting New Jersey Devils. Ilya Kovalchuk scored with just 24 seconds remaining in OT to lift the Devils to the win at Air Canada Centre.

Kovalchuk carried the puck into the zone himself, skating down the left boards and cutting across to the right circle before flipping a shot past Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer.

Nikolai Kulemin scored Toronto's only goal in the second period. Reimer stopped 24 shots through two scoreless periods and finished with 37 saves on 39 shots for the Maple Leafs, who lost for just the second time in their last six games.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere is expected to get the start in net for Toronto tonight. He is 2-0 with a 1.52 GAA against the Habs this season.

The Maple Leafs are 10-15-1 on the road this season.