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head coach: Alain Vigneault

roster: C - Saku Koivu, Marc Bureau, Vincent Damphousse, Scott Thornton. LW - Shayne Corson, Martin Rucinsky, Benoit Brunet, Terry Ryan, Brian Savage, Patrick Poulin. RW - Mark Recchi, Mick Vukota, Turner Stevenson, Jonas Hoglund. D - Vladimir Malakhov, Stephane Quintal, Patrice Brisebois, Peter Popovic, Craig Rivet, Igor Ulanov, Zarley Zalapski. G - Jocelyn Thibault, Andy Moog.

injuries: Martin Rucinsky, lw (sprained ankle, a week); Stephane Quintal, d (sprained ankle, 10 days); Brian Savage, lw (broken thumb, day-to-day); Igor Ulanov, d (knee injury, day-to-day).

transactions: Eric Houde assigned to Fredericton (AHL).

standings:

Eastern Conference - Northeast Division
Team         GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   
x-Pittsburgh 76  37  22  17    91  209  175  
Boston       74  34  27  13    81  198  175  
Buffalo      75  33  27  15    81  192  170  
Montreal     75  35  30  10    80  219  190 
Ottawa       75  30  31  14    74  175  184  
Carolina     74  31  35   8    70  183  196  
x - Clinched playoff spot

game results:

3/25 at Tampa Bay   W 2-1 OT
3/26 at Florida     L 5-4
3/28 Tampa Bay      W 8-2
3/31 at Carolina    T 3-3
4/01 at Florida     W 4-3
4/04 Carolina       L 1-0

team news:

by Jacques Robert, Montreal Correspondent

Thibault Likely to be Starter in Playoffs

This year, Montreal is not concerned about making it to the playoffs. Les Boys are trying to get into good position to start the first round. This year it is of great importance to get to the second round for the Habs... So rumors are circulating in the press box: Who is going to be the #1 goalie, Moog or Tbo? Tbo or Moog? Suspense. Will injured players be ready for the final season stretch (Ulanov, Quintal)? Mystery.

Anyway, stakes are high since the Habs want to be sure to finish fourth in the Eastern Conference so not to play big shots like Philadelphia or New Jersey too soon. At this stage of the regular season, nothing is cast in stones.

As a matter of fact, Boston, Washington and Buffalo set aside from forth place would also give Montreal the home ice for at least the first round of the playoffs even though, as Mark Recchi has said lately: "Our record isn't that great at home, but you still want to start here."

Giving Montreal's latest result at home, how come players still want to play there?

Defensemen Contribute Offensively

For now, things look quite good since the entire team takes over as top offensive players (except Damphousse) are getting some rest. Actually, both forwards and defensemen are contributing to the score and setting the shoulder to the wheels. For instance, a guy like Patrice Brisebois had a goal in each of the Canadiens' last four games before entertaining Tampa Bay at the Molson Center. As for Benoit Brunet (one goal, one assist) and Marc Bureau (two goals), they assured the victory against the Panthers (4-3) and Zarley Zalapski gave the Canadiens the lead in the third in the same game. Another big surprise? Jonas Hoglund... he scored six goals in his last seven games prior to entertaining Tampa Bay at home.

Thibault #1: Four Consecutive Starts!

Furthermore, discussions are going on about naming Jocelyn Thibault the #1 goalie for the playoffs. Even though Alain Vigneault refuses to make a choice between Tbo and Moog as the best Montreal goalie, it's clear that Tbo is favored in Vigneault's mind. Jocelyn has been the starting goalie in the last three consecutive games... and Moog's back isn't in good condition, not to mention that he is concerned with the health of his daughter who still lives in Dallas.

Ulanov Returns in 15 Days

Another concern: The Canadiens' injury list keeps growing as defenseman Stephane Quintal suffered a sprained ankle in the third period against Carolina. The team is also missing Igor Ulanov who resumed skating in Tampa and said that he would be ready to play in the first round of the playoffs. Let's pray! For the moment, The Habs cannot win against teams on winning streaks like the Florida Panthers, against whom they lost one out of two games in six days. More than that, with the loss against The Hurricanes (0-1), Montreal slipped one game below .500 at home with a 15-16-7 record.

ON MY NOTE-PAD

Corson's New Milestone
Shayne Corson played his 800th game in the NHL against Tampa at the Molson Center.

Superstitious... Damphousse
Vinnie Damphousse is a tad superstitious and rightfully so... He kissed singer Celine Dion before entertaining Tampa, then he scored three goals.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Darcy Tucker (a former Hab now playing for Tampa): "He (Alain Vigneault) told me I was a joke, I was crying and humiliated all the time."

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