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MONTREAL (AP) -- Thanks to a listless offense and an unending string of injuries, the Montreal Canadiens have a two-year playoff drought for the first time since 1922.
Patrick Lalime turned away 23 shots as the Ottawa Senators defeated Montreal 3-1 Saturday night, eliminating the Canadiens from the Eastern Conference playoff picture one day before the regular season ends.
|  | | Patrice Brisebois and the Canadiens couldn't stop Vaclav Prospal's Senators from blocking their path on Saturday. |
"We worked so hard all year and came through so much adversity and so many injuries," left wing Shayne Corson said. "I really thought we'd win. I thought it was our year. We tried so hard to win and we didn't and that's a disappointment for all of us."
Montreal lost a record 533 man-games to injury but still fought its way into playoff contention with a 23-11-4-3 second half.
Karl Dykhuis ended Lalime's bid for a fourth shutout with an unassisted goal with 1:39 left to play. It was a typically poor showing on offense from the Canadiens, who managed 196 goals this season. Only expansion Atlanta and the New York Islanders scored fewer.
"Everyone's disappointed, but there's still a sense of accomplishment," Montreal defenseman Eric Weinrich said.
"Maybe next year, we'll learn something from this game and maybe we won't have to play a game like this."
Montreal, which missed the playoffs last season, had not been out of the postseason in consecutive years since failing in three straight from 1920-22. The Canadiens own a record 23 Stanley Cup titles since the NHL was formed in 1917.
Montreal finishes the season with 83 points, one fewer than eighth-place Buffalo. Carolina has 82, and can swipe the final berth with a win against Atlanta on Sunday and a Sabres loss.
Magnus Arvedsson, Kevin Miller and Daniel Alfredsson scored for Ottawa, which ends its season Sunday against Tampa Bay.
Ottawa had already clinched a playoff spot in the East and will face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round.
Three Canadiens were caught at the blue-line as Arvedsson, in his first game back after missing 33 with an abdominal injury, tapped in a pass from Andreas Dackell 15:08 into the match.
Miller won a faceoff and went to the net to tip in Colin Forbes' shot 2:03 into the second period.
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NHL Scoreboard
Ottawa Clubhouse
Montreal Clubhouse
RECAPS
New Jersey 2
Florida 1
Philadelphia 3
Boston 0
Carolina 4
Atlanta 3
Ottawa 3
Montreal 1
Toronto 4
Tampa Bay 2
Edmonton 6
Calgary 3
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Magnus Arvedsson taps in a pass from Andreas Dackell.
avi: 687 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Daniel Alfredsson's wrister deflects off the post for the goal.
avi: 611 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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