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Canadiens return home to face Thrashers

Nov 18, 2006 - 5:29 PM Atlanta (12-6-3) at Montreal (10-5-3) 7:00 pm EST

MONTREAL (Ticker) -- The Montreal Canadiens return home after a four-game road trip and host the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday.

Montreal finished the trip 2-2-0, but it ended on a sour note in a 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Friday. Tomas Plekanec scored the only goal for the Canadiens, who were outshot, 39-28, and went 0-for-5 on the power play.

David Aebischer started for Montreal but was pulled after allowing four goals on only 24 shots. Cristobal Huet replaced Aebischer and finished with 14 saves.

Aebischer and Huet have been alternating every two starts this season, a rotation that had gone rather well until Friday.

The Thrashers have lost three straight following a 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Friday. Goaltender Kari Lehtonen surrendered three goals on seven shots and was pulled in favor of Johan Hedberg with 3:14 left in the first period.

Glen Metropolit, Steve Rucchin and Marian Hossa scored for the Thrashers, who went 0-for-5 on the power play.

Hossa, who leads the NHL with 16 goals and 31 points, left Friday's game after crashing into the boards, but said he should be ready to play on Saturday.

Before the game, the Canadiens will retire the number 18 of long-time defenseman Serge Savard, who played for the Habs from 1967-81 and was part of eight Stanley Cup championship clubs.

Savard later became the general manager of the Canadiens.