The Canadiens have no intention of taking it easy in their final regular season game Saturday in Toronto, as Coach Michel Therrien has opted to start Carey Price in nets against the Leafs.
“We always said that we’re going to try to finish in the best position in the standings,” said Therrien, who is mindful that a loss coupled with a Tampa win would leave the Habs finishing in second place in the Atlantic Division.
Besides, Price hasn’t been overtaxed of late.
“This will be his third game in nine days, it’s not demanding like back-to-back. We’re going to have four days between the last game and the first game of the playoffs. There’s a purpose playing in Toronto tomorrow, so that’s the decision,” Therrien told a scrum of reports in Montreal Friday afternoon.
With a win the Canadiens would finish the season with 110 points, 10 more than last season when they finished fourth in the conference. It's also 32 more than their season total from just three seasons ago when the Canadiens finished in last place in the East with just 78 points.
Getting a point in Toronto would allow Montreal to hold home ice advantage in a possible future playoff round against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that doesn't play nearly as well on the road as they do at home.
But Brendan Gallagher doesn't think that not having home ice advantage is a crippling disadvantage.
“Home ice is an advantage but since I’ve been here the two series where we had home ice we lost and the two series that we didn’t we won, so regardless of the situation we’re in we’re going into a series confident that we can win that series,” said Brendan Gallagher.
Some of the buzz around the locker room centred around Toronto’s decision to call up tough guy Colton Orr from the minors, which is likely meant as a sentimental salute to a veteran who is likely playing in final NHL game.
The Habs don’t think Orr will be dropping the gloves.
“I think that’s a classy move by Toronto," Dale Weise said. "His contract is up his year. He plays pretty honest, I don’t see him doing anything crazy."
Brandon Prust concurred about Orr.
“He’s a competitor and he plays a certain way. You never know but I don’t think he’s coming up to be running around and fighting guys,” said Brandon Prust.
In spite of all of the focus on the final regular season contest, the excitement for the first round of the playoffs, which will start next week, was in the air.
“This is what everybody in the league strives for, to make the playoffs and for it to be my first experience. I’m very excited for it and it’s a great opportunity,” said Jeff Petry.
The Canadiens' first round opponent will only be decided Saturday as all 30 teams suit up for their final game. The Habs could end up playing Pittsburgh, Detroit, Ottawa or Boston in the first round.
