Line-up Takes Shape

[Habsfan84]

If you walked into Martin Lapointe Arena yesterday morning, you would have witnessed the opening day of the Hamilton Bulldogs' training camp.
Oh, it wasn't billed that way. It was described as the Canadiens' Team A practice, but there was a definite B-list feel to the proceedings. Bulldogs head coach Don Lever and assistant Ron Wilson conducted the practice, and goaltender Carey Price and Ryan O'Byrne were the only players given a realistic shot at making the NHL this season.
The group was in marked contrast to Team B, the veteran-laden group that took the ice in the afternoon.
Head coach Guy Carbonneau told the media they shouldn't read too much into the way the players were divided, but he also said that he wanted to have a solid practice with "the guys who are going to be here to start the season." The practice was an indication the Canadiens are stepping up their preparations for the coming season. While Carbonneau will continue to look at youngsters, he will field his most experienced lineup to date when the Habs meet the New York Islanders tonight at the Bell Centre (7:30 p.m., CJAD Radio-800).
There will be 14 players with NHL experience in tonight's lineup. There were only eight when the Canadiens dropped a 3-1 decision to the Islanders on Wednesday.
And Carbonneau will take a closer look at his goaltenders, allowing the top three to play a full game. Price gets the start tonight; Cristobal Huet will play the entire game tomorrow night against Ottawa and Jaroslav Halak will go all the way Sunday afternoon when the Canadiens meet the Boston Bruins in Halifax.
While there won't be any official cuts until Monday, Carbonneau all but confirmed that Huet will start the season as the No. 1 goaltender and that means Price will be in Hamilton.
After the loss in Moncton, Carbonneau said he would give each of the goaltenders a complete game and use the final two exhibition games "to get Cristobal ready for the opener." Yesterday's practices also provided an insight into what the lineup will look like on Oct. 3 when the Canadiens visit Carolina.
Saku Koivu will centre Christopher Higgins and Michael Ryder, while Tomas Plekanec will be between Alex Kovalev and Andrei Kostitsyn. In his last two exhibition games, Kovalev has been on a line with Mikhail Grabovski, who appears to be fighting for a reserve spot.
Guillaume Latendresse will be on the checking line with newcomers Bryan Smolinski and Tom Kostopoulos, while rookie Kyle Chipchura will be between Steve Bégin and Maxim Lapierre.
After playing forward most of last season, Mark Streit is slated as a top-four defenceman.
O'Byrne, who will play with Roman Hamrlik tonight, has looked strong in exhibition play, but it appears he is caught in the numbers game. He and Price wouldn't be out of place in Montreal, but they'll get more ice time in Hamilton.
Matt D'Agostini, Sergei Kostitsyn, Pavel Valentenko have futures in the organization, but need more experience.
The Canadiens' official cuts will be announced Monday, with 25-28 players heading to Mont Tremblant for three days of intensive practice before the final exhibitions, Sept. 27 against Boston and Sept. 29 in Ottawa.
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