“It’s disappointing to lose, but they had their full team and we were were missing three of our top guys and we outplayed them,” Carbonneau said.

Patrice Brisebois had a good outing despite one hiccup, and Carey Price finished the game for Cristobal Huet, but the rookie’s future is still up in the air, until Monday at least.

Read Pat Hickey’s full report from Ottawa here.

“It’s disappointing to lose, but they had their full team and we were were missing three of our top guys and we outplayed them,” Carbonneau said.

Patrice Brisebois had a good outing despite one hiccup, and Carey Price finished the game for Cristobal Huet, but the rookie’s future is still up in the air, until Monday at least.

Read Pat Hickey’s full report from Ottawa here.

Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau announced today that Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev and Andrei Markov won’t play in the team’s final exhibition game Saturday in Ottawa against the Senators.

“Those guys have been playing well and we know what they can do,” Carbonneau explained. “This will give us a chance to look at some other guys.”

Either Patrice Brisebois or Josh Gorges will take Markov’s spot, while Kyle Chipchura and Garth Murray are expected to fill in for Koivu and Kovalev.

Carbonneau also announced that Cristobal Huet will get the start in goal and will play at least 40 minutes, if not the entire game.

The Canadiens open the regular season Wednesday night in Carolina.

Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau announced today that Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev and Andrei Markov won’t play in the team’s final exhibition game Saturday in Ottawa against the Senators.

“Those guys have been playing well and we know what they can do,” Carbonneau explained. “This will give us a chance to look at some other guys.”

Either Patrice Brisebois or Josh Gorges will take Markov’s spot, while Kyle Chipchura and Garth Murray are expected to fill in for Koivu and Kovalev.

Carbonneau also announced that Cristobal Huet will get the start in goal and will play at least 40 minutes, if not the entire game.

The Canadiens open the regular season Wednesday night in Carolina.

Head coach Guy Carbonneau said his troops are “close” to where he wants them to be to start the season.

“We want to play better defensively, and I think we’ve played for 60 minutes in our last two games,” Carbonneau said. “When we looked back at last season, we saw that there were little mistakes that cost us games. We’re trying to avoid those mistakes, and if we can cut our goals against by at least 30 goals, it will help us.”

The Canadiens got goals from veterans Alex Kovalev, Andrei Markov and Tomas Plekanec, and were able to kill off seven of the eight penalties they took.

The Habs wrap up their preseason on Saturday night when they travel to Ottawa to take on the Senators. Final cuts are expected to be made by Monday.

Head coach Guy Carbonneau said his troops are “close” to where he wants them to be to start the season.

“We want to play better defensively, and I think we’ve played for 60 minutes in our last two games,” Carbonneau said. “When we looked back at last season, we saw that there were little mistakes that cost us games. We’re trying to avoid those mistakes, and if we can cut our goals against by at least 30 goals, it will help us.”

The Canadiens got goals from veterans Alex Kovalev, Andrei Markov and Tomas Plekanec, and were able to kill off seven of the eight penalties they took.

The Habs wrap up their preseason on Saturday night when they travel to Ottawa to take on the Senators. Final cuts are expected to be made by Monday.

Tomas Plekanec lead the Canadiens offence with a hat trick and Christopher Higgins scored his first goal of the preseason as the Habs held off a late charge by the Boston Bruins to win 4-3 in Halifax on Sunday. Two of Plekanec’s goals came on the power play, which has struggled so far this preseason. Higgins also added an assist and Bryan Smolinski has two assists.

Chuck Kobasew and Glen Murray scored the first two Boston goals, and Phil Kessel made this close with only nine seconds remaining with a quick goal off the draw with the Boston net empty.

Jaroslav Halak played the entire game for the Canadiens, while Manny Fernandez was in the nets for the Bruins.

The Canadiens will return home right after the game and some cuts could come as early as tonight. The Habs will not practice tomorrow, holding meetings instead. Training camp moves to Mont Tremblant for three days until the next preseason game on Thursday night.

Tomas Plekanec lead the Canadiens offence with a hat trick and Christopher Higgins scored his first goal of the preseason as the Habs held off a late charge by the Boston Bruins to win 4-3 in Halifax on Sunday. Two of Plekanec’s goals came on the power play, which has struggled so far this preseason. Higgins also added an assist and Bryan Smolinski has two assists.

Chuck Kobasew and Glen Murray scored the first two Boston goals, and Phil Kessel made this close with only nine seconds remaining with a quick goal off the draw with the Boston net empty.

Jaroslav Halak played the entire game for the Canadiens, while Manny Fernandez was in the nets for the Bruins.

The Canadiens will return home right after the game and some cuts could come as early as tonight. The Habs will not practice tomorrow, holding meetings instead. Training camp moves to Mont Tremblant for three days until the next preseason game on Thursday night.

“We haven’t spent a lot of time on the power play and it shows,” captain Saku Koivu said.

During Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Senators, the Canadiens were 0-for-5 on the power play and are now 2-for 33 during the preseason.

“There aren’t a lot of goals being scored 5-on-5 today and we’ll have to work on the power play and the penalty-kill. I thought we did a good job on the PK tonight, but I think both teams need work on the power play.” Carbonneau said.

“We have to shoot more, we have to get the puck to the net and we have to have guys working around the netm” Mark Streit said.

Hickey writes that only 26 or 27 players are expected to survive the cuts, which are expected to be delivered after Sunday afternoon’s game in Halifax against the Bruins. That game starts at 3 p.m.

“We haven’t spent a lot of time on the power play and it shows,” captain Saku Koivu said.

During Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Senators, the Canadiens were 0-for-5 on the power play and are now 2-for 33 during the preseason.

“There aren’t a lot of goals being scored 5-on-5 today and we’ll have to work on the power play and the penalty-kill. I thought we did a good job on the PK tonight, but I think both teams need work on the power play.” Carbonneau said.

“We have to shoot more, we have to get the puck to the net and we have to have guys working around the netm” Mark Streit said.

Hickey writes that only 26 or 27 players are expected to survive the cuts, which are expected to be delivered after Sunday afternoon’s game in Halifax against the Bruins. That game starts at 3 p.m.

The Canadiens dropped a 2-1 Bell Centre decision to the Ottawa Senators tonight at the Bell Centre. Follow the links above for those details, and listen to head coach Guy Carbonneau’s post-game press conference (runs 6:28), also linked to above.

The Canadiens are in Halifax for a 3 p.m. ET game against the Bruins. You’ll find that on the Internet at cjad.com.

And below is a look at the Canadiens camp thus far, in point form.

* Sept. 14: 62 players are invited to camp.

* Sept. 14-16: Camp begins with three days at suburban Pierrefonds.

* Sept. 16: Seven players assigned to their junior teams: Olivier Fortier, Yannick Weber, P.K. Subban, Cameron Cepek, Sébastien Piché, Mathieu Labrie and Andrew Loverock.

* Sept. 17: Game 1 of 8 preseason: Canadiens beat Pittsburgh 3-2 in overtime at Bell Centre.

* Sept. 18: Game 2 of 8 preseason: Pittsburgh beats Canadiens 5-2 at Bell Centre.

* Sept. 19: Game 3 of 8 preseason: New York Islanders beat Canadiens 3-1 in Moncton, N.B.

* Sept. 21: Game 4 of 8 preseason: Canadiens beat New York Islanders 3-2 in overtime at Bell Centre.

* Tonight: Game 5 of 8 preseason: Senators beat Canadiens 2-1 at Bell Centre.

* Sunday: Game 6 of 8 preseason: Canadiens vs. Bruins in Halifax, 3 p.m. ET

The Canadiens dropped a 2-1 Bell Centre decision to the Ottawa Senators tonight at the Bell Centre. Follow the links above for those details, and listen to head coach Guy Carbonneau’s post-game press conference (runs 6:28), also linked to above.

The Canadiens are in Halifax for a 3 p.m. ET game against the Bruins. You’ll find that on the Internet at cjad.com.

And below is a look at the Canadiens camp thus far, in point form.

* Sept. 14: 62 players are invited to camp.

* Sept. 14-16: Camp begins with three days at suburban Pierrefonds.

* Sept. 16: Seven players assigned to their junior teams: Olivier Fortier, Yannick Weber, P.K. Subban, Cameron Cepek, Sébastien Piché, Mathieu Labrie and Andrew Loverock.

* Sept. 17: Game 1 of 8 preseason: Canadiens beat Pittsburgh 3-2 in overtime at Bell Centre.

* Sept. 18: Game 2 of 8 preseason: Pittsburgh beats Canadiens 5-2 at Bell Centre.

* Sept. 19: Game 3 of 8 preseason: New York Islanders beat Canadiens 3-1 in Moncton, N.B.

* Sept. 21: Game 4 of 8 preseason: Canadiens beat New York Islanders 3-2 in overtime at Bell Centre.

* Tonight: Game 5 of 8 preseason: Senators beat Canadiens 2-1 at Bell Centre.

* Sunday: Game 6 of 8 preseason: Canadiens vs. Bruins in Halifax, 3 p.m. ET

Hickey writes that Team A had a definite B-list feel to it, with Bulldogs head coach Don Lever running the show. Carey Price and Ryan O’Byrne were the only players on that squad with a realistic chance of making the NHL this season.

Head coach Guy Carbonneau with go with a veteran-laden lineup as the Habs take on the Islanders tonight, dressing 14 players with NHL experience at the Bell Centre. Price will play the full game between the pipes.

Read Hickey’s full article here.

Hickey writes that Team A had a definite B-list feel to it, with Bulldogs head coach Don Lever running the show. Carey Price and Ryan O’Byrne were the only players on that squad with a realistic chance of making the NHL this season.

Head coach Guy Carbonneau with go with a veteran-laden lineup as the Habs take on the Islanders tonight, dressing 14 players with NHL experience at the Bell Centre. Price will play the full game between the pipes.

Read Hickey’s full article here.

Carey Price will start and play whole game Friday night against the Islanders, Cristobal Huet will play a full 60 minutes against the Senators on Saturday and Jaroslav Halak will face the Bruins on Sunday in Halifax.

Carey Price will start and play whole game Friday night against the Islanders, Cristobal Huet will play a full 60 minutes against the Senators on Saturday and Jaroslav Halak will face the Bruins on Sunday in Halifax.

Forward lines:

S. Kostitstyn-Koivu-Ryder
Latendresse-Plekanec-D’agostini
Begin-Maxwell-Kostopolous
Murray-Lapierre-White

On defence:

Hamrlik-O“Byrne
Gorges-Komisarek
Bouillon-Dandenault

Forward lines:

S. Kostitstyn-Koivu-Ryder
Latendresse-Plekanec-D’agostini
Begin-Maxwell-Kostopolous
Murray-Lapierre-White

On defence:

Hamrlik-O“Byrne
Gorges-Komisarek
Bouillon-Dandenault

Canadiens head coach Guy Carbonneau said Danis has been the best goaltender in the team’s first three exhibition games. “He came into camp in great shape and he’s been working hard,” Carbonneau said.

“I’m fighting for my career,” Danis said.

Despite the loss, Carbonneau was satisfied with the game. “I don’t think anyone looked bad,” he said. “We had lots of chances, but we were just missing on our passes and that happens in training camp.”

Sergei Kostitsyn scored the lone goal for Montreal, and Carbonneau said he was impressed with the rookie’s play and that of his older brother, Andrei.

“They have offensive skills and do good things when they have the puck and now we have to find out what they can do without the puck.”

Sergei Kostitsyn scored for the Canadiens at 4:43 of the third period to narrow the gap to 3-1, but that was as close as the Habs would get as they dropped their second straight exhibition game.

Huet played the first half of the game, stopping 18 of 21 shots. Yann Danis played the third period, stopping the 11 shots he faced.

Montreal had another poor showing on the power play, going 0-for-7 on the night.

Montreal’s next game is on Friday night when the Islanders are at the Bell Centre, followed by the Ottawa Senators Saturday night. The Canadiens then travel to Halifax to take on the Boston Bruins on Sunday to wrap up the first portion of training camp.