Steve Quailer scored a power play goal with 3:47 remaining in the third period to break a 0-0 tie and give the Hamilton Bulldogs a 1-0 win over the Lake Erie Monsters.
The Toronto Marlies defeated the Hamilton Bulldogs 6-1 in a penalty filled at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto Saturday afternoon. It was the second half of a home and home weekend between the clubs. The Bulldogs beat Toronto 6-3 in Hamilton Friday night.
For the second straight night the Hamilton Bulldogs staged a comeback against the Rochester Americans. Friday night in Rochester they eventually lost 3-2 in a shootout. Saturday they scored four goals in just over 5 minutes to win 4-3.
Players on entry level or two way contracts are eligible to be returned to an NHL’s minor league affiliate during the NHL lockout. Louis Leblanc has two seasons remaining in his entry level contract while both Blake Geoffrion and Michael Blunden have two-way agreements. All three played a signiificant number of games with the parent Canadiens last season.
Of the nine Canadiens players who were facing unrestricted three agency at the end of the year, five have received contracts for the coming season. The Canadiens re-signed three of them. Mathieu Darche, Andrei Kostitsyn, Chris Campoli and Jaroslav Spacek are still awaitiing offers.
Because of the injury to Brian Gionta, which took him out of the seaason’s second half, right wing on the Canadiens became a serious problem. Gionta’s replacements were a mixture of rookies and fourth line players and the results were predictable. Gionta returns next season but the Canadiens still have a major third line iissue to deal with.
Canadiens right winger Michael Blunden underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this morning and will be lost to the Canadiens for between 15 and 20 games. Blunden was hurt February 2nd in New Jersey. The surgery decision was made after swelling had gone down and miniscus damage was discovered. The Canadiens also have Yannick Weber to worry about. Weber suffered what appeared to be an injury to his left knee last night against Pittsburgh and was left behind when the Canadiens flew to Long Island Wednesday afternoon. Aaron Palushaj has been recalled from Hamilton to repllace him.
The Canadiens announced Saturday that forward Michael Blunden has been assigned to the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs.
Recalled from the Bulldogs on October 23, the 24-year old forward played in the Club’s last eight games. He was held pointless, had seven penalty minutes and posted an average ice time of 5:01 minutes. The Bulldogs will play their next game Sunday against the Binghamton Senators.
On off day for the Canadiens and time to catch up on the odds and ends. Rangers broadcasters say Markov will rejoin his teammates in practice this week. How much is Carey Price worth? The officiating fiasco in the Ranger game. The Rangers gloating over the Gomez/McDonagh trade and the Canadiens recent penalty killing.
Losers of five straight games, the Canadiens today traded for forward Petteri Nokelainen and defenseman Garrett Stafford from the Phoenix Coyotes, in return for forward BrockTrotter and a 7th-round draft pick in 2012. Nokelainen reports to the Canadiens, Stafford will head for Hamilton. The Canadiens also recalled forward Michael Blunden from Hamilton and returned Andreas Engqvist and Aaron Palushaj to the Bulldogs.
