Habs' depth will get test in playoffs

[Habsfan84]

Could there be a sadder sight than watching Canadiens captain Saku Koivu limp out of the Bell Centre on crutches yesterday?
Koivu, who has been the ultimate warrior during his dozen years with the Canadiens, was rounding into playoff form when an Ales Kotalik shot struck him on the left foot Friday night in Buffalo. Koivu had 17 points in his last 21 games.
While he held out some hope of being able to return for the start of the playoffs, it appears the Canadiens will have to win at least one round if Koivu is going to play again this season.

The injury will be the biggest test of the Canadiens' depth. They have been able to survive injuries to second-line players and the short-term loss of players like Roman Hamrlik, but this loss will go a long way toward convincing all the Koivu bashers of his value.
You only have to look back to the 2006 playoffs when the Canadiens won the first two games in Carolina and were leading in Game 3 when Justin Williams's stick caught Koivu in his left eye, ending the captain's season. Carolina came back to win the game, eliminated the Canadiens in six games and went on to win the Stanley Cup.
During the offseason, Koivu expressed some doubts over whether the Canadiens had done enough to become a Stanley Cup contender. It will be a shame if the club does make a run and Koivu isn't part of it.
It will be a bigger shame if the Canadiens don't make a run because Koivu isn't part of it.
Murray keeps 'em laughing: There's a lot of doom and gloom around the Ottawa Senators these days, but it's good to see that coach and general manager Bryan Murray still has a sense of humour.
When Murray was asked about Daniel Alfredsson's absence from practice yesterday, he said: "(The Canadiens) are not going to play their captain, so how can I play ours?"
Murray went on to say Alfredsson had taken the day off to rest assorted bumps and bruises, but would be in the lineup tonight when the Canadiens visit.
Also missing from practice was Cory Stillman. Said Murray: "He's day-to-day, but tomorrow's not the day."
Salary cap on the rise again: Paul Kelly, the executive director of the National Hockey League Players' Association, had some good news when he met with agents last week.
Kelly told them the salary cap will go up for the third consecutive season. With revenues on the rise because of increased ticket prices and the increased value of the Canadian dollar, the cap will be $56.3 million, an increase of $6 million over this season and up considerably from the $39 million coming out of the lockout. In fact, the floor next season will be $40 million.
Only three clubs had payrolls under $40 million this season: Phoenix, Nashville and Columbus. When you look at the attendance in those cities, you can be sure that the increase will hurt.
The latest increase raises the question: Why was there a lockout? The answer in 2004 was that the average salary had reached $1.8 million, but the latest increase will put the average over $2 million.
Pacioretty still alive: Canadiens prospect Max Pacioretty and the Michigan Wolverines will face Notre Dame in the semifinals of the Frozen Four NCAA hockey championships. Pacioretty had a goal and two assists in a 5-1 East Regional semifinal win over Niagara and had an assist in a 2-0 win over Clarkson in the final.