Music: {allcanada} CANADIENS (39-16-5) at BLUE JACKETS (26-29-4)

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

{allcanada} CANADIENS (39-16-5) at BLUE JACKETS (26-29-4)

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ESPN Fantasy Baseball / Yahoo Fantasy Baseball

Thursday, February 26, 2015

7:00 PM ET

CANADIENS (39-16-5) at BLUE JACKETS (26-29-4)

TV: RDS, SNE, FS-O

Season series: Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty has scored four goals in two games against the Columbus Blue Jackets, each a Montreal win. In the first game in Columbus, the Canadiens scored three power-play goals in the third period with Pacioretty scoring the game-winner with 4:37 remaining in a 3-2 win.

Canadiens team scope: Montreal traded forward Jiri Sekac to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday for forward Devante Smith-Pelly. Smith-Pelly did not arrive in Columbus in time to practice Wednesday but should be at the morning skate Thursday and is expected to be in the lineup. Defenseman Sergei Gonchar (upper body) and forward PA Parenteau (concussion) each practiced, but coach Michel Therrien said neither will play. "The pace is really high before the [Stanley Cup Playoffs]," Therrien said "It's not the same pace as training camp or mid-Decemeber. It's a high pace and we have to make sure when we put players on the ice that the conditioning is there." Montreal is first in the Eastern Conference.

Blue Jackets team scope: Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is not ready to return to the lineup. The Blue Jackets reassigned goalie Anton Forsberg to Springfield of the American Hockey League and recalled Oscar Dansk to back up Curtis McElhinney. Despite not being available to face Montreal, Bobrovsky continues to improve. "He's progressing, that's the best way to say it," coach Todd Richards said. "He's still a little sore, but more aggressive on the ice each day, which is a good sign." Columbus announced Wednesday that forward Jack Skille, who has been out the past four games, will have shoulder surgery next week and miss the rest of the regular season.

Team Stats