#MTLHockey Preview
Match Up
The Canadiens (9-4-1) are home to host the Minnesota Wild (7-5-0) Saturday night at the Bell Centre. While the game is set to start at 7:00, there will be a ceremony to honor Guy Lapointe and raise his name and number to the rafters beginning at 6:30 (you can jump straight to the What Else section for more on Lapointe). The match will air on TVA and City.This is the first of two meeting between the Habs and Wild this season. The Canadiens make the trip to the State of Hockey in early December to close out the series. Last season these teams each won their home games, but the 6-2 victory the Habs earned on Noveber 19 last year helped spark an impressive run by the Canadiens. Max Pacioretty picked up a hat trick in the game and the Canadiens went on to earn points in their next nine games, going 9-0-1 over the span, including the win against the Wild.
What to Watch
Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau has already paid dividends on his new team, coming up big for a third time in shootouts this season with the game deciding goal against the Sabres on Wednesday. The Canadiens have a perfect 4-0 record in shootouts this year and Parenteau has converted three of his four attempts, with each of his markers sealing the victory for the Habs.Like the Habs, the Wild have struggled to find offense at times this season. They were shut out in their last outing against the Senators on Thursday. Former Canadien Thomas Vanek is tied for second on the team in scoring along with minute-eating defensman Ryan Suter. Both have a goal and seven assists.
What's at Stake
They may not be the prettiest victories, but the Canadiens keep finding ways to collect points and sit atop the Eastern Conference in a three-way tie with the Lightning and Penguins. There's a decent gap between the Habs and teams like the Maple Leafs, Flyers and Devils, that right now sit just outside a playoff spot, but the Bruins and Red Wings are within striking distance of Montreal, just one point back.Who's Out
Michael Bournival was forced to leave Wednesday's game with a shoulder injury and will miss at least a couple of weeks of action. Mike Weaver did not dress last game, he was a last minute scratch due to illness, but is expected to play Saturday. Rene Bourque will be a healthy scratch for a second straight game on Saturday as Travis Moen draws back in to the line-up.The Wild will be without their biggest offensive threat on Saturday, Zach Parise is out with a concussion and did not travel with the team. Matt Cooke (lower body) and Jared Spurgeon (shoulder) are both on injured reserve, while Keith Ballard is expected to return to action against the Canadiens after missing all but one game this season.
What Else
The Canadiens pay homage to Guy "Pointu" Lapointe tonight, by raising his name to the rafters to join Larry Robinson and Serge Savard, the other two members of the famed "Big Three". Lapointe's number 5 has already been retired, with Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion receiving the honor in 2006, so Lapointe and Geoffrion will become the third pair to share a retired number, along with Dickie Moore and Yvan Cournoyer (12), and Henri Richard and Elmer Lach (16).Lapointe, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993, holds a couple of records for a Canadiens defensemen. Lapointe's 28 goals in 1974-75 are the most for a Habs blueliner, and his 15 goals in his rookie season are the most for a rookie Habs defender. Pointu also has 6 Stanley Cups to his name and sits second all time in points for a Canadiens defensemen with 572 while wearing the bleu, blanc et rouge.
Lapointe currently serves as Coordinator of Amateur Scouting for the Wild, which is why this game was chosen to mark the occasion. As part of the ceremony, Serge Savard's 18 and Larry Robinson's 19 have been temporarily moved so that Lapointe's number 5 can be reunited with the other two thirds of the Big Three.
Banners for 18 and 19 moved from their usual spots for tomorrow. #Habs pic.twitter.com/nNxYnND4wG
— Heather Engel (@engelheather) November 7, 2014
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