Lars Eller returns to the Canadiens lineup Sunday evening against the undefeated Jersey Devils.   Exactl where he’ll play is an open question.    He practiced on a line with David Desharnais and Erik Cole Saturday because Max Pacioretty was absent  with flu-like symptoms, which can range from a cold to something like swine flu or worse.

If Pacioretty  is not available, rather than break up other lines, he probably stay on the Desharnais line.  If he’s feeling better, the best guess is,   he replaces Ryan White on the team’s fourth line with TravisMoen and Colby Armstrong.

Late on Friday’s practice Tomas Plekanec took a puck in the face and left the ice. He’ll probably be available Sunday.

Only a guess.

The practice lines Saturday -

Eller-Desharnais-Cole -

Bourque-Plekanec-Gionta

 Prust -Galchenyuk-Gallagher-

Armstrong-White-Moen

Meanwhile, nothing new in the P.K. Subban contract dispute.  There are unconfirmed reports of a two year-five million dollar contract offer on the table from the Canadiens. Whatever the figures are,  it looks like we’ve reached the  take-it or leave-it stage in the negotiations.  The two sides meet again Monday.  If Subban opts to “leave it” those trade rumours are really going to heat up.

An interesting take on those Subban-trade-to-Philadelphia rumours from Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News here

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