NHL teams
Pierre LeBrun, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

W2W4: Canadiens at Senators, Game 4

OTTAWA -- The Montreal Canadiens go for the sweep Wednesday night at Canadian Tire Centre, leading the Ottawa Senators 3-0 in the series after winning the past two games in overtime:

1) A huge key for the Senators to improve their chances is to not melt down in the second period as they have every single game. They’ve been outshot 52-26 in all three middle periods and outscored 6-2, wasting terrific opening periods. Senators coach Dave Cameron said that was the entire focus in Tuesday’s team meeting. On Wednesday morning, Cameron said his message to his players was that he wanted three first periods out of them; in other words, carry through on the energetic starts right through 60-plus minutes and the result should be different.

2) Is Carey Price getting in the heads of the Senators? The Hart Trophy front-runner has been rock solid as expected through three games. Standout rookie winger Mark Stone of the Senators was asked Wednesday morning if there were any areas where Price was vulnerable. "I don’t know, not many,’’ Stone said, smiling. ``You look at most of the goals, they’re around the net. You’re not going to beat him on too many clean opportunities. Most of the goals that we’re getting are ones on odd-man rushes or banging pucks that are around the net.’’ Is Price intimidating them? "He’s one of the best goalies in the league,’’ Stone said. ``At the same time, I don’t think you can change your game just based on a goaltender. Any goalie you play you want pucks in traffic at the net. And he’s no different, he’s obviously going to make a lot of first saves. We just need to find ways to get second and third opportunities.’’

3) Greg Pateryn makes his NHL playoff debut Wednesday night as he subs in for the injured Nathan Beaulieu on the Canadiens’ third defense pairing. A native of Sterling Heights, Michigan, the 24-year-old is listed at 6-foot-2 and 22 pounds, and yes, he doesn’t mind finishing his checks. That’s a welcome element to a Habs lineup that got severely outhit by the Senators in Game 3 despite the OT win. ``I think I bring that physical element that I think we need,’’ Pateryn said Wednesday morning after the skate. ``Both teams have been battling pretty physically. That’s a big aspect of my game that I pride myself on, being physical, but also not taking stupid penalties. I’m looking forward to it.’’

4) Ottawa also has a lineup change: Zack Smith comes in for David Legwand on the Senators’ fourth line. Here's a look at both teams' lineups:

SENATORS

Clarke MacArthur – Kyle Turris – Mark Stone

Milan Michalek – Mika Zibanejad - Bobby Ryan

Erik Condra – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Curtis Lazar

Mike Hoffman – Zack Smith – Chris Neil

Marc Methot – Erik Karlsson

Patrick Wiercioch – Cody Ceci

Mark Borowiecki – Eric Gryba

Craig Anderson in goal

CANADIENS

Alex Galchenyuk-Tomas Plekanec-Brendan Gallagher

Max Pacioretty-David Desharnais-Devante Smith-Pelly

Jacob De La Rose – Lars Eller – Dale Weise

Brandon Prust – Torrey Mitchell – Brian Flynn

Andrei Markov – P.K. Subban

Alexei Emelin – Jeff Petry

Tom Gilbert – Greg Pateryn

Carey Price in goal

^ Back to Top ^