Here’s an excerpt from Canadiens.com game preview by Heather Engel of the pre-season game between the Wild and Canadiens:
After spending some bonding and practice time up in the Laurentians the past couple of days, the Canadiens are back in action tonight. A visit from the Minnesota Wild is on the agenda in the Habs’ final tune-up of the preseason.
Two weeks of exhibition games are winding down and Guy Carbonneau’s squad has been exhibiting plenty of good things on the ice. They are 6-2 so far and remain unbeaten in all four home games so far, outscoring their opponents 13-4. And any doubts about the power-play dropping off from last season are likely starting to wane. The Habs were on fire with the man advantage on Wednesday against the Bruins, connecting three times on six opportunities in the 3-1 win; they’ve now scored 11 power-play goals in eight contests.
Carbonneau’s line-up should be as close to complete as can be, minus a few players. Roman Hamrlik, sidelined by injury since the preseason opener, could be back to face the Wild, as could Andrei Markov. One who won’t be suiting up is defenseman Francis Bouillon, who suffered an undisclosed injury late in Wednesday’s game.
