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TJ Galiardi provided third period insurance when he got enough of the puck to direct it into the net at the doorstop. Scott Gomez unleashed a shot from the point that was deflected before making its way toward Backstrom and eventually found Galiardiââ â-2/3¢s tape.

"It's mental for us I think," Parise said. "Just mental lapses that we weren't doing a few weeks ago. We were better prepared for games."

The unanswered goals came after the Wild netted two of its own within 25 seconds of each other in the second period to knot the game at 2-2.

Charlie Coyle got the Minnesota scoring started tapping in a Parise bid after the two entered the zone together with a pretty give-and-go. Parise threw a wrister on net from the circle that squeezed under Sharks goalie Antti Niemi's shoulder and sat in the crease where Coyle found it and shoved it in.

On the next shift, Heatley fired a seeing-eye bomb from above the left circle that made its way through traffic in front of the net and past Niemi.

But in the first period, the Wild played like a team hungover from the excitement of acquiring Jason Pominville earlier in the day.

The Wild were out-worked and out-shot in the initial frame, but somehow only trailed 2-0 heading into the second. It easily could have been 5-0.

San Jose hit a post behind Backstrom, Ryan Suter cleared a puck in the crease headed for the net, and Backstrom poked away a breakaway bid to keep the game within striking distance.

"We played really hard and things just didn't go our way -- especially early," coach Mike Yeo said.

Martin Havlat started San Joseâ's scoring just 1:34 in on a one-timer from the left circle off the stick of Thornton.

Four minutes later, defenseman Dan Boyle skated 200 feet untouched to score seconds into a San Jose 5-on-3. He put a nice move on Suter at the blue line and finished the breakaway with a backhand.

"I think we started to get too loose," Parise said. "You could tell even when we did win our seventh and eighth in a row, they weren't great games. And I think thatâ's carried over. We haven't been ready to play."

Pioneer Press LOADED: 04.04.2013

667817 Montreal Canadiens

In the Habs' Room: 'Flyers played hard'

By Pat Hickey, The Gazette April 4, 2013 3:04 AM

PHILADELPHIA — Carey Price said the Philadelphia Flyers scored four "lucky goals" but he made it clear that he wasn't using that as an excuse for the Canadiens' 5-3 loss to the Flyers Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

"They got four pretty lucky goals in my opinion, but I don't think we played well enough to win regardless of the bounces," Price said. "I think we definitely could have played better collectively as a group, but you can't play perfect every game."

Erik Gustafsson, who was credited with the winning goal, would agree that the Flyers were on the right end of the bounces. He was trying to pass the puck into the crease but the puck was deflected into the net by Montreal defenceman Francis Bouillon to give the Flyers a 4-3 lead at 16:24 of the third period.

"I was going to shoot the puck but somebody jumped into the shooting lane," said Gustafsson, whose goal was only the second of his career. "I saw (Matt) Read and Jakub (Voracek) in front and I just tried to get the puck to them and we got a lucky bounce."

Coach Michel Therrien also thought the bounces weren't that large a factor.

"We didn't match their intensity," he said. "It's simple, they deserved to win. If you only have six shots on net in the second and third periods, you're not going to win many games.

"The (Flyers) played well, they played hard," Therrien added. "They threw pucks at the net and they were rewarded."

One important factor in the loss was an injury to Tomas Plekanec, who left the game early in the second period after playing only 7:14.

"As soon as we lost Plekanec, we lost our focus and we weren't capable of getting it back," Therrien said.

The coach confirmed that Plekanec suffered a groin injury and, while Therrien described the injury as day-to-day, it's unlikely he'll face the Winnipeg Jets Thursday night. And he's questionable for Saturday's key Northeast Division showdown against the Boston Bruins.

"He's a big part of our team in every situation," said David Desharnais, who noted that he had a little bit of luck in his go-ahead goal in the second period. "A couple of guys have to step and we didn't tonight."

"It's always tough to lose a player of his calibre," captain Brian Gionta said. "But before we lost him, we were struggling and we never seemed to get our rhythm."

While the Canadiens managed only six shots over the final two periods, they scored twice in a 21-second span in the second period to take a 3-2 lead. But they failed to take momentum from that outburst.

There were some encouraging moments in the game. The Canadiens' penalty-killing unit killed off three Philadelphia power plays and now has gone three games without giving up a power-play goal.

Therrien said Price was a key component in the penalty kill and he said the goaltender was "our best player."

Defenceman Davis Drewiske made his debut and played a solid game, although he did give Read too much room on the winning goal. Drewiske played 15:31 and registered a hit and two blocked shots.

The Canadiens missed a chance to bolster their lead over Boston in the Northeast Division and move closer to the Pittsburgh Penguins in their battle for first place in the Eastern Conference. But Desharnais didn't have time to dwell on the missed opportunity.

"We have a game tomorrow and we have to start thinking about that," he said.

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Habs+Room+Flyers+played+hard/8192162/story.html#ixzz2PUNSPJBH

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013

667818 Montreal Canadiens

Flyers post comeback win over Habs

By Pat Hickey, The Gazette April 4, 2013

PHILADELPHIA — Eric Gustafsson's pass through the crease went off Montreal defenceman Francis Bouillon at 16:24 of the third period to snap a 3-3 tie as the Philadelphia Flyers rallied to defeat the Canadiens 5-3 Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Wayne Simmonds scored at 14:54 of the third period to spark the comeback for the Flyers, who outshot the Canadiens 26-6 over the final two periods.

Explosive comeback: The Canadiens stunned the Flyers with two goals in a 21-second span to take a 3-2 lead in the second period. After Simon Gagné gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead at 15:43 of the second period, Brandon Prust tied the score at 16:29 and David Desharnais put the Canadiens ahead at 16:49 with a blast that had Flyers' goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov ducking for cover.

The game might have been a costly one; Tomas Plekanec left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury.

Missed chance: The loss left the Canadiens with a one-point edge over Boston in the Northeast Division race and the idle Bruins once again enjoy a game in hand. The Canadiens are five points behind first-place Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference standings and Montreal has played two fewer games. The Flyers moved to within four points of a playoff spot despite being in the basement of the Atlantic division.

Emelin delivers: Alexei Emelin scored on a harmless-looking wrist shot from inside the blue line to open the scoring at 13:13 of the first period. Rookie Brendan Gallagher was the unsung hero on the goal as he screened Bryzgalov on the play.

Unlucky bounces: Sean Couturier tied the game at 1-1 when he got two fortunate bounces. His shot from a sharp angle struck Price on the wrist and caromed into the net off P.K. Subban's skate blade.

Fight night in Philly: The start of the second period resembled a game in the Ligue nord-americaine de hockey. Wayne Simmons and Travis Moen dropped the gloves at 2:13 and Brandon Prust tangled with Zac Rinaldo two seconds later. There was another scrap in the third period with Claude Girioux taking on Lars Eller.

Good news, bad news: Defenceman Raphael Diaz, who has been out with a concussion, has been cleared to skate and joined Rene Bourque on the ice in Brossard Wednesday. But there's no good news for winger Colby Armstrong, whose lower-body injury involves his right knee. Coach Michel Therrien said he hopes Armstrong will be back for the playoffs.

Future watch: University of North Dakota forward Danny Kristo will join the Hamilton Bulldogs after signing a two-year entry-level deal Wednesday. Chicoutimi's Charles Hudon and Swede Sebastian Collberg also are expected to join the Bulldogs in the next week,.

What's next: Peter Budaj's parents will be part of the sellout crowd at the Bell Centre Thursday night (7:30 p.m., TSN-Habs, RDS, TSN-690 Radio) when he gets the start for the Canadiens against the Winnipeg Jets. The Boston Bruins and the Canadiens resume their battle for first place in the Northeast Division Saturday night, also at the Bell Centre.

phickey@montrealgazette.com

Read more: http://www.canada.com/sports/Flyers+post+comeback+over+Habs/8191973/story.html#ixzz2PUNWRfbc

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013

667819 Montreal Canadiens

Bergevin talked trade, for naught

By Brenda Branswell, The Gazette April 3, 2013

MONTREAL — Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said there were lots of phone calls and conversations on Wednesday.

But by the much ballyhooed National Hockey League trade deadline at 3 p.m. there were no new faces added to the Canadiens’ roster.

The only press release from the Canadiens on Wednesday came 10 minutes after the trade deadline when the team announced it had signed forward Danny Kristo to a two-year deal. Kristo, who scored 26 goals and picked up 26 assists this season with the University of North Dakota, will report to the Habs’ farm club, the Hamilton Bulldogs. The Canadiens selected the 5-foot-11 Kristo in the second round of the 2008 NHL entry draft.

“It’s not a period where you have two days to make trades,” Bergevin said of Wednesday’s deadline.

The trading period started two months ago, and the Canadiens did add pieces to the team during that time frame.

They looked around again on Wednesday.

“But at the end of the day we’re proud of where we are,” Bergevin told reporters.

Their goal is to make the playoffs and they’re in good position to do so, he added.

The team went into last night’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 23-7-5 record.

Bergevin’s biggest trade was in late February when the Canadiens sent Erik Cole to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Michael Ryder. The team recently picked up forward Jeff Halpern off waivers from the New York Rangers and acquired a depth defenceman, Davis Drewiske, on Tuesday from the Los Angeles Kings.

“The last two months there have been a lot of conversations, kicking tires and looking at how can you make your team better,” Bergevin said.

“We added a piece (Tuesday) that we felt the price was right and that Davis (Drewiske) could come and help us. So the strategy has not changed. We have a plan and it’s to make the Montreal Canadiens better for years to come. I think we have a good core. We have some good young players with a good mix of veterans. We’ve got guys coming through the system that we’re developing and making better. So overall I’m pretty satisfied with the direction the hockey club has been taking.”

Bergevin said he wouldn’t go into detail about who the Canadiens did or didn’t try to go after. They always tried to put the ingredients in place to help the team, he said, but “there are big prices to pay and often there are a lot of teams that aren’t ready to do that.”

Bergevin said he definitely didn’t want to lose good young players. The team also held onto its six draft picks, which Bergevin said he believes are in the first 90 picks of the NHL entry draft.

While he values draft choices a lot and believes they’re how you build a team for years to come, Bergevin also said nothing is set in stone.

“If at some point down the road I feel that I have to move ... a high pick to get something that I feel is going to help the club at the time, I’ll do that.

“But in this case I felt that what was (asked) in return was too much and I want to make sure we kept those picks.”

Bergevin contends you can never have enough defencemen, especially if you’re going to make the playoffs. He said he had planned to make a move if there was someone available where he felt the price was right, which was the case with Drewiske.

“He’s a stay-at-home defenceman. He’s a decent size, he’s got a great stick, kills penalties, blocks shots,” and can handle good ice time, Bergevin said.

As for Kristo, Bergevin said he had a very good season at university.

“He’s a prospect, he’s a young player with talent and we’ll develop him and we’ll see where it leads.”

Inevitably, Habs’ fans will wonder if the team has enough size and grit to go deep into the playoffs.

Asked if he viewed the Canadiens as a Stanley Cup contender, Bergevin said he sees the team as one that has put itself in a good position to make the playoffs.

“Anything is possible once you make the playoffs,” Bergevin said.

“We won the President’s Trophy when I was in St. Louis, we lost in the first round. So (in the) playoffs, anything is possible.”

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Bergevin+talked+trade+naught/8191825/story.html#ixzz2PUNbgRgi

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013

667820 Montreal Canadiens

‘I like the chemistry on this team’: Therrien

By Pat Hickey, The Gazette April 3, 2013

PHILADELPHIA — Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin and head coach Michel Therrien like their team.

If there was any doubt about that, it was erased when the Canadiens were content to limit themselves to a minor tweak as the National Hockey League trade deadline came and went on Wednesday afternoon.

With only a handful of teams willing to acknowledge they were sellers, the annual swap shop was quieter than usual and the silence in Montreal was deafening.

The Canadiens did pick up journeyman defenceman Davis Drewiske from Los Angeles on Tuesday in return for a fifth-round draft pick. But they weren’t in the running for higher-profile talent such as Jaromir Jagr, Ryane Clowe, Robin Regehr or Jay Bouwmeester because the price was too high and/or the players weren’t interested in coming to Montreal.

“I like the chemistry on this team,” Therrien said Wednesday in the hours leading up to the Canadiens’ game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

And why not? While there are still concerns about size and toughness, the Canadiens have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and Bergevin has deftly positioned the team for next season — and beyond.

That’s why Drewiske was the perfect fit at the deadline. He has size at 6-foot-2 and 224 pounds, a reputation for hard work and a minimal cap hit of $625,000.

Over the past three months, the Canadiens have auditioned youngsters Greg Pateryn, Jarred Tinordi and Nathan Beaulieu, and they all played well enough that the Canadiens feel they have a bright future on the blue line.

Drewiske offers one thing the youngsters don’t — experience — but he’s the ultimate short-term rental. He’s in the top six now, but will drop a notch when Raphael Diaz returns from a concussion. The good news Wednesday was that Diaz joined Rene Bourque on the ice in Brossard and — barring a setback — should be back before the playoffs.

Getting Bourque back will be akin to adding a gritty forward and Bergevin did make some deals earlier in this shortened season. The GM was a clear winner when he sent Erik Cole to Dallas for Michael Ryder, and waiver pickup Jeff Halpern has provided the Canadiens with a valuable addition on the penalty-kill and in the faceoff circle.

There were some notable deals Wednesday, but Roberto Luongo remains in Vancouver and Miikka Kiprusoff will retire as a Calgary Flame. The most prominent moves involving goaltenders saw former rookie-of-the-year Steve Mason go to the Philadelphia Flyers, while 6-foot-7 Ben Bishop leaves the goalie logjam in Ottawa and goes to Tampa for 5-foot-8 forward Cory Conacher. Goaltending has been a major concern in both Philly and Tampa Bay, but neither player figures to be an upgrade on what the teams have now.

The most aggressive team was the Pittsburgh Penguins, the only team ahead of the Canadiens in the East. The Penguins added Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow and Douglas Murray last week and topped the tank Wednesday with the addition of Jussi Jokinen from Carolina. That should help them weather the storm while Sidney Crosby recovers from a broken jaw.

The Boston Bruins, who are at the Bell Centre Saturday, added veteran Jaromir Jagr and defenceman Wade Redden, but the big news in Beantown is that Patrice Bergeron is out indefinitely with another concussion.

The New York Rangers picked up Ryane Clowe, who was a disappointment in San Jose, and traded Marian Gaborik, who was an overpriced disappointment in New York.

Gaborik went to Columbus, which is only one point out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The word “buyer” isn’t usually associated with the Blue Jackets, but Columbus also added Blake Comeau.

phickey@montrealgazette.com

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/like+chemistry+this+team+Therrien/8191291/story.html#ixzz2PUNgn3V2

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013

667821 Montreal Canadiens

Current and former stars will shine at first Habathon

By Dave Stubbs, The Gazette April 3, 2013

MONTREAL — Eight current members of the Canadiens, three Hall of Famers, a player famous for driving a stake through the heart of the 1978-79 Boston Bruins and a talented two-way star of his era will assemble at Place Vertu mall in St. Laurent on Sunday to sign autographs for fans at the first Habathon.

Half of all funds raised will be donated to the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation.

Last April 7, the Canadiens were playing their 82nd and final game of the 2012-13 season, eliminated from the playoffs. One year later, Montreal is flushed with Habs fever, the club headed toward the postseason in this lockout-shortened campaign.

From roughly 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Canadiens Carey Price, Max Pacioretty, Josh Gorges, P.K. Subban, Travis Moen, Ryan White, Jeff Halpern and rookie Brendan Gallagher will meet fans and sign autographs.

Featured from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. will be Hall of Famers Henri Richard, Yvan Cournoyer and Guy Lafleur. They’ll be joined by the gregarious Yvon Lambert, who scored the Game 7 semifinal overtime winner against Boston in the famous too-many-men game, and Bobby Rousseau, an important part of the Habs of the 1960s.

Combined, the former Canadiens won 34 Stanley Cups — 11 for Richard, 10 for Cournoyer, five for Lafleur and four each for Lambert and Rousseau.

A silent auction of Habs memorabilia will also take place on site.

Details of the event and pricing:

Legends: A $24 general-session ticket will provide fans with an 8x10 photo of the Montreal Forum that will be signed by the former Canadiens.

For an additional $20, fans can have a personal item autographed by a combination of Lafleur and Lambert, or Cournoyer and Rousseau, or Richard and a former player to be announced.

Current Canadiens: A $31 general-session ticket buys an 8x10 photo of the Bell Centre, to be signed by all eight current players.

Personal-item combinations will be $31 for Price and Moen; and $30 for Subban and Halpern, or Pacioretty and White, or Gorges and Gallagher.

A $49 ticket will provide access to both general sessions.

Fans are invited to bring their cameras, but there will not be an opportunity to have photos taken with the players, given the number of people expected to attend.

Also offered will be a VIP package for $499, which will provide front-of-the-line access for two people for signings of Forum and Bell Centre photos and two personal items by all current and former players on hand, as well as a photo opportunity with all Canadiens in attendance.

Note that the appearance of players is subject to change in the event of illness or injury.

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Current+former+stars+will+shine+first+Habathon/8191263/story.html#ixzz2PUNkUc00

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013

667822 Montreal Canadiens

About last night …

Posted by Mike Boone

It makes me nervous when the general manager of the Montreal Canadiens is thinking the same way as I about his team.

At 4 p.m. on trade deadline day, Marc Bergevin was talking about why he hadn’t made any major moves.

The GM’s goal, when the truncated NHL season began, was making the playoffs.

And although they haven’t clinched a postseason spot, Bergevin’s team will be playing hockey in May.

I view my team as a team that put themselves in a good position to make the playoffs,” Bergevin said.

The GM didn’t say so, but anything else is gravy. He’s playing with house money.

Bergevin talked about building “a good team for years to come” – a plan that made him reluctant to part with young prospects and/or draft choices.

Six hours later, the Canadiens were licking their wounds – figuratively and literally – after a 5-3 spanking in Philadelphia.

And back in Montreal, the Winnipeg Jets, who play the Canadiens at the Bell Centre Thursday night, were watching the game and licking their chops.

Andrew Ladd and Evander Kane probably paid particular attention to the ease with which Scott Hartnell and Wayne Simmonds moved their big bodies into Carey Price’s kitchen. The Flyers net-crashers were unencumbered by any Canadiens defenceman – least of all by Andrei Markov and Alexei Emelin. Nor did newcomer David Drewiske impress me as someone who’s going to do much crease-clearing.

(Props to Josh Gorges: He wasn’t on for any Philadelphia goals. But his D partner has had better nights … up to and including the mistake that led to Voracek’s empoty-netter.)

The Jets also may have noted the performance of Lars Eller, who was on for every Philadelphia goal except Jakub Voracek’s empty-netter. Eller was minus-4 and went 1-6 in the faceoff circle.

Eller was attempting to fill in for Tomas Plekanec, who left the game early in the second period. Plekanec sustained a groin injury and is listed as day-to-day.

He wasn’t the game’s only casualty. Max Pacioretty took a shot off his left ankle. No word on whether he’ll be able to play against Winnipeg.

In his postgame remarks, Michel Therrien said the Canadiens “didn’t match the intensity level” of the Flyers. The coach said six shots in 40 minutes – the Canadiens had four in the second period, two in the third – weren’t enough to win many hockey games.

Certainly not this one.

Trailing 3-2 after 55 minutes, their shot advantage notwithstanding, the Flyers kept up the pressure until the Canadiens inevitably wilted. Carey Price had kept them in the game up to that point, making several brilliant stops and being victimized by a few bad bounces.

The Flyers played with more desperation. They are 11th in the Eastern Conference. And if the Flyers were scoreboard watching, they would have noted a big win by the Rangers, who are one of the teams Philadelphia will have to catch in order to make the playoffs.

A win by the Canadiens would have put them three points behind faltering Pittsburgh for the Eastern Conference lead. And they have two games in hand on the Penguins.

The loss left the Canadiens one point ahead of Boston, with the Bruins holding a game in hand.

While the Canadiens attempt to get back on the winning track against Winnipeg – probably without Plekanec and Pacioretty – the Bruins will be playing the Devils in Boston. Then the Bruins are at the Bell Centre Saturday night.