Music: {allcanada} CANADIENS (34-22-7) at DUCKS (43-14-5)

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

{allcanada} CANADIENS (34-22-7) at DUCKS (43-14-5)

ESPN Fantasy Baseball

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

10:00 PM ET

CANADIENS (34-22-7) at DUCKS (43-14-5)

TV: RDS, TSN-HABS, PRIME

Last 10: Montreal 6-2-2; Anaheim 6-4-0

Season series: This is the second and final game between the Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks. Tomas Plekanec had a goal and two assists, and Carey Price stopped 31 shots as the Canadiens beat the Ducks 4-1 at Bell Centre on Oct. 24.

Big story: The Ducks weren't waiting until the last minute, making a number of moves Tuesday ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline set for 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday. They solved a goaltending dilemma by sending Viktor Fasth to the Edmonton Oilers and also dealt forward Dustin Penner to the Washington Capitals. The Ducks received a pair of draft picks in return as well as some additional room under the salary cap which they used in acquiring veteran defenseman Stephane Robidas from the Dallas Stars.

Team Scope:

Canadiens: While Price (lower body) was placed on injured reserve ahead of Montreal's 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, the transaction was retroactive to Feb. 26 and he can be activated as soon as he's ready to return to the crease.

Fortunately, the Canadiens don't have to rush matters with veteran backup Peter Budaj capably holding the fort in Price's absence. He's gone 16-6-5 over the past two seasons.

"I'm just taking things one game at a time. I know it's a cliché but we have to look at the next task ahead of us and we have to see what we did right and what we did wrong today and fix the mistakes to get ready for next game," Budaj said. "I try to prepare myself physically and mentally for when I get a chance to play and so far I feel great. My energy levels are really good and hopefully it stays that way."

The Canadiens added depth on defense Tuesday, acquiring Mike Weaver from the Florida Panthers for a fifth-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Ducks: Still in the driver's seat to win the Presidents' Trophy heading into the final quarter of the regular season, Anaheim tinkered with its roster Tuesday in an attempt to make sure this year's run at a Stanley Cup goes a lot deeper than the 2013 seven-game loss to the Detroit Red Wings in the first round.

With Sheldon Souray unable to play this season, the Ducks now turn to another defenseman with ties to both the Stars and Canadiens in Robidas, a seventh-round pick of Montreal (No. 164) in 1995. Robidas hasn't played since Nov. 29 because of a broken leg, but he's expected to be ready before the playoffs begin, perhaps as early as a couple weeks.

"He's a warrior who was always in our face and couldn't get away from him," coach Bruce Boudreau told Orange County Register reporter Eric Stephens about battles against Robidas in the past.

Meanwhile, the play of rookie Frederik Andersen behind starter Jonas Hiller made Fasth expendable.

"He came up here as a fill-in and he just kept playing better and better and better," Boudreau said of Andersen.

Who's hot: Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban has goals in consecutive games. Forward Max Pacioretty has three goals and two assists during a three-game point streak. … Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano has goals in consecutive games and a career-high 19 for the season. Forward Corey Perry has three goals in as many games.

Injury report: Price (lower body) and forwards Michael Bournival (concussion) and Brandon Prust (upper body) are on injured reserve for Montreal. … Anaheim forward Mathieu Perreault (upper body) missed the game Sunday and is day-to-day.

Team Stats