UPDATE: Michael Ryder has a lower body injury and did not make the trip to New Jersey. Mike Blunden has been called up to fill his roster spot from the Hamilton Bulldogs.

CANADIENS RECALL MIKE BLUNDEN

Hamilton Bulldogs Press Release
03/15/2013 12:30 PM –

MONTREAL, QUE – Montreal Canadiens and Hamilton Bulldogs General Manager Marc Bergevin announced today that the Canadiens have recalled forward Mike Blunden from the Bulldogs.

Blunden, who has now been recalled three times by the Canadiens this season, has played 54 games for the Bulldogs in 2012-2013 recording 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) and 76 penalty minutes. Blunden, 26, played 39 games for the Canadiens in 2011-2012 and registered four points (two goals, two assists) and 27 penalty minutes. In 90 games over six seasons in the National Hockey League, the Toronto, Ontario native has amassed eight points (four goals, four assists) and 96 penalty minutes. In 17 games during the 2011-2012 season for the Bulldogs, the six-foot-four, 214-pound forward recorded eight points (three goals, five assists) and 26 penalty minutes. Blunden has played 311 games in the AHL and has totaled 150 points (65 goals, 85 assists) and 382 penalty minutes.

CANADIENS ASSIGN PETTERI NOKELAINEN TO BULLDOGS

Hamilton Bulldogs Press Release
03/15/2013 10:33 AM –

MONTREAL, QUE – Montreal Canadiens and Hamilton Bulldogs General Manager Marc Bergevin announced today that the Canadiens have assigned forward Petteri Nokelainen to the Bulldogs.

Nokelainen, 27, last played for the Canadiens on March 31st, 2012 and has been sidelined this season due to injury. Nokelainen split the 2011-2012 season with the Canadiens and the Phoenix Coyotes recording seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) and 37 penalty minutes. The native of Imatra, Finland has played 245 regular season games with the New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Anaheim Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes and Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League over five seasons since 2005 registering 41 points (20 goals, 21 assists) and 103 penalty minutes. The 6’1”, 201-pound forward played four seasons in Finland for SaiPa Lappeenranta (2002-2005) and Jokerit Helsinki (2010-2011) posting 56 points (31 goals, 25 assists) and 168 penalty minutes in 140 regular season games. Nokelainen also played 68 regular season games over two seasons with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Providence Bruins of the American Hockey league from 2006-2007 notching 24 points (9 goals, 15 assists) and 55 penalty minutes.

Nokelainen helped lead Finland to a Bronze Medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation Under-20 World Junior Championship in 2004. Nokelainen was acquired by the Canadiens in a trade with the Phoenix Coyotes with Garrett Stafford in exchange for Brock Trotter and a seventh round draft pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft on October 23rd, 2011. Nokelainen was originally drafted by the New York Islanders in the 1st round, 16th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.