HabsWorld.net --
Sheldon Souray and the Montreal Canadiens will welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins to town and will certainly be looking to exact some revenge on a team they lost to just three nights ago. Sheldon Souray was ejected from the game early in the second period for defending his captain Saku Koivu after a vicious yet clean body check by Colby Armstrong. Armstrong caught Koivu with his head down behind the Penguins net and immediately Souray came to the rescue, and although Armstrong dropped his gloves and threw a few punches Souray received the only fighting major as well as a two minute instigator, 10 minute misconduct and game misconduct. The Penguins would score twice during the seven minute power play.
This afternoon the Habs should be looking for numerical revenge rather than physical as their grip on a playoff spot was weakened yet again yesterday with a 4-2 loss to the Islanders. The Penguins on the other hand picked up a win yesterday over the Washington Capitals.
David Aebischer is slated to be back in goal for the Canadiens as it appears the status of number one is back up for grabs with the recent struggles of Cristobal Huet. Marc-Andre Fleury could get the start for the Penguins. With six wins in his last seven games and only one regulation loss in his last 12 Fleury finally appears to be showing the Penguins why they drafted him 1st overall in 2003.
After yesterdays loss Carbonneau once again was faced with questions about the lack of scoring from the Canadiens top two lines. Saku Koivu and Alex Kovalev have most of the blame placed squarely in their corner as they have received the most ice time and both play on the teams number one power play unit. Kovalev and Koivu have combined for just two goals and picked up three assists in their last eight games.
Fun Facts
1. David Aebischer has played in 28 games for the Canadiens three of those have been against the Penguins. In those three games he has allowed 14 goals half of which have been power play markers.
2. As Koivu and Kovalev go so go the Canadiens. The Canadiens have won all five of the last games Alex Kovalev has scored in and all six that Saku Koivu have scored in.
3. The Canadiens have won six consecutive Super Bowl Sunday games.
4. 16 times this season the Canadiens have had a player score two goals in game but not once have the Canadiens had a player score a hat trick. The last Canadiens hat trick was scored by Michael Ryder a year ago today on Super Bowl Sunday.
