head coach: Alain Vigneault

roster: C - Saku Koivu, Marc Bureau, Darcy Tucker, Vincent Damphousse, Sebastien Bordeleau, Eric Houde. LW - Shayne Corson, Martin Rucinsky, Benoit Brunet, Scott Thornton, Terry Ryan, Brian Savage. RW - Mark Recchi, Stephane Richer, Turner Stevenson, Valeri Bure. D - Dave Manson, Vladimir Malakhov, Jassen Cullimore, Stephane Quintal, Patrice Brisebois, Peter Popovic, David Wilkie, Craig Rivet, Brett Clark, Francois Groleau. G - Andy Moog, Jocelyn Thibault.

injuries: David Wilkie (bruised right calf, day-to-day); Jassen Cullimore, d (torn cartilage in shoulder, day-to-day); Peter Popovic, d (infected left ankle, day-to-day).

transactions: None.

standings:

GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   HOME      ROAD
 2   1   0   1     3    6    3  0-0-1     1-0-0

game results:

10/01 Ottawa    T 2-2
10/04 at Boston W 4-1

team news:

by Jacques Robert, Montreal Correspondent

LES CANADIENS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME

Hey folks, just take a look at the 97-98 new roster - there's no reason to be excited apparently! OK, Reggie Houle & Co loosened the purse strings to acquire Stanley Cup experience in the person of goalie Andy Moog. But remember: not so long ago, the defensive squad was blamed for lack of good results, and so was the offensive lines, particularly in the absence of Saku Koivu.

However, a brand new coaching staff could make the difference between this year and last year's record. Vigneault, King, Jodoin and Melanson are likely to have Les Canadiens usher in a new era: a modern system, a brand new way of establishing relationship with players as well as computer-assisted methods of training. In Montreal, odds are good that the good old boys' tradition would be thing of the past. For good finally.

Players have already noticed changes on and off the ice. And confidence seems to have come back in the dressing room. As a matter of fact, the first two games reflected this new state of mind. If Vigneault's boys tied the first game against their petpeeve Ottawa, they definitely set the stage for an outstanding season with a win against the rebuilding Bruins club.

Recchi-Koivu-Corson against Boston: 10 points!

In the Fleet Center, the first line made up of Koivu, Recchi and Corson had a ball! Not only did it deliver 10 points, but Recchi got away with the third hat trick of his career. Moreover, Saku Koivu assisted on all goals scored by the Canadiens.

Talking about Saku, the little Finn is no longer a worried player troubled by the miserable season he experienced last year. This season, Koivu is full of confidence, and the way the coaching staff has taken over is not foreign to his positive attitude: "We are organized now!" he said. "During practice we are working on things we're actually going to do in a game. That makes the difference."

CORSON: "I'm in the best shape, I've been in years."

Shayne Corson, 31, is also happy with the new entourage while coming out of a good training camp that allowed him to earn a spot on the first line. In addition, he is no longer bothered with his knee injury. "I don't think anyone knows how much my knee bothered me last year. I'm in the best shape I've been in years."

Stephane Richer has also put the last season behind him. He is all set to produce great pieces of hockey in the upcoming months. Against Ottawa, he scored twice, albeit, suffering from a sore back and despite the boos from the Molson Center crowd when he was introduced.

Injuries Are Still a Problem

Actually, Richer demonstrates that Les Canadiens are still plagued by injuries. Wilkie, Cullimore and Popovic are still missing. It's not good news since they are all defencemen. And defence is precisely the Habs Achilles' heel. Moog is undoubtedly a good acquisition but, most of all, he has to be able to rely on strong defencemen. Hopefully, Malakhov could be off to a great season since he scored his first goal against Boston. But he cannot make up for the whole defence. Brisebois and Quintal have to show up... So far, those three guys have not responded to the new coaching methods. In my opinion, it is just a matter of time.

Well, Montreal is still in reconstruction but odds are good that it is to have a great season as long as injuries do not interfere with Vigneault's plans.

Let's pray!

ON MY NOTEBOOK

Les Canadiens: no more dress code on trips
A new atmosphere definitely reigns in the Canadiens dressing room this year. The dress code is becoming a thing of the past. Ties, jackets, shirts are no longer mandatory on the charter flights. It's enough to make Toe Blake turn over in his grave!

Vigneault younger than... Moog
Alain Vigneault, 36, is experiencing a situation that few coaches have ever had to face. His starting goalie, Andy Moog, is two years his senior! Recently, Moog even reminded his coach that they had played against each other when they both played in the junior rank. Vigneault had completely forgotten about that.

Thibault: waiting it out
Thibault is quietly warming up the bench. He even told reporters that it was useless for the Montreal media jungle to keep asking him how he feels when he's not the starting goalie. Patience is becoming his middle name. For how long?

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