All Habs GameDay: Saturday January 14, 2012

On this day in hockey history… 1943 – Montreal’s Alex Smart became the first NHL rookie to score a hat trick in his first NHL game. 

GAMEDAY: Habs hockey tonight!

OTTAWA SENATORS (24-15-6) vs. MONTREAL CANADIENS (16-20-7)

Last 10: Ottawa (7-1-2); Montreal 3-7-0

Bell Centre,  7:00 p.m. EST

TV: RDS, CBC

Projected line combinations (updated following morning skate)

MONTREAL CANADIENS

Forwards
Scott Gomez – Tomas Plekanec – Mike Blunden
Max Pacioretty – David Desharnais – Erik Cole
Andrei Kostitsyn – Lars Eller – Travis Moen
Mathieu Darche – Petteri Nokelainen

Defenseman
Josh Gorges – P.K. Subban
Hal Gill – Chris Campoli
Tomas Kaberle – Raphael Diaz
Alexei Emelin

Goaltenders
Carey Price (will start) – Peter Budaj

Scratches
Yannick Weber

Injuries
Ryan White – Andrei Markov – Brian Gionta

Power-play
Gomez – Plekanec – Cole – Kaberle – Subban
Pacioretty – Desharnais – Kostitsyn – Diaz – Campoli

OTTAWA SENATORS

Forwards
Colin Greening –  Jason Spezza – Milan Michalek
Erik Condra – Kyle Turris – Daniel Alfredsson
Nick Foligno – Zack Smith – Chris Neil
Kaspars Daugavins – Zenon Konopka – Bobby Butler

Defensemen
Filip Kuba – Erik Karlsson
Jared Cowen – Sergei Gonchar
Chris Phillips – Brian Lee

Goaltenders
Craig Anderson (will start) – Alex Auld

Scratches

Injuries

GAMEDAY: All Habs Headlines

► Habs need new GM: Many are starting to question Pierre Gauthier’s plan, or if he has a plan at all?  It’s fair to say that Gauthier’s career success has been spotty at best.  But the Canadiens general manager has just rattled off a series of moves that smack of desperation.  Most expect that the Habs aren’t done, but is Gauthier the one to lead the retooling?

“Molson needs to start fresh. No more miscalculations. No more panic moves. No more pregame firings or undercutting statements or third-period trades. The Canadiens will never be what they once were. We are long past the Original Six and early expansion eras. The Habs cannot expect to dominate again with homegrown, French-speaking execs, coaches and players. But they can honor their heritage and culture while trying to win like everybody else.” — Nicholas J. Cotsonika, Yahoo Sports

Read more: Montreal Canadiens need fresh start — and new GM

► Cammalleri didn’t ask for trade: Some have speculated that Mike Cammalleri’s bold comments this week were a not so veiled message that he was looking to be dealt.  Not so says Cammalleri’s agent Ian Pulver.

“Mike did not want out of Montreal. Mike wanted to win in Montreal. He wanted the team to do better and he made his comments and whether they were accepted or not, he’s in Calgary today.” — Ian Pulver

Read more: Agent: Cammalleri didn’t want out

► If there weren’t already enough reasons to dislike the trade: In addition to Rene Bourque, the Calgary Flames sent prospect Patrick Holland to the Canadiens.  Holland plays for the Tri-City Americans, the top team in the WHL.  In their game with the Vancouver Giants on Friday night (which Tri-City went on to win 11-4) Holland nailed Habs super prospect Brendan Gallagher with an open-ice hit that sent him into the boards awkwardly.  Gallagher left the game and did not return.  Coach Don Hay said that Gallagher would be evaluated on the weekend.

Read more: Giants lose game to Americans, Gallagher to injury

► Puck’s take: Need to know who will win tonight? @PucktheBunny has his prediction here. His record is an amazing 10-3-1.

(Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)